Denver Receives Top Spot in Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
Jan. 16, 2009
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Denver collected 36 points along with six first-place votes to solidify the top spot in the 2009 MPSF women's lacrosse preseason coaches' poll. The Pioneers return 24 players from last year's team that reached the conference finals, including All-MPSF selections Megan Carver, Steph Coyne, Ali Flury, Karen Morton and newcomer of the year Tulley Stapp. Coyne was the 2008 MPSF assist and point leader, while Flury and Morton ranked second and third respectively in scoring. DU has turned in back-to back 5-0 regular season conference records. Taking second in the poll was Stanford with 29 points and one first-place vote. The Cardinal placed third during the season each of the last two years, only to win the conference tournament each time behind MVP goalkeeper Laura Shane who has since graduated. Stanford looks for its fifth consecutive MPSF Championship and NCAA Tournament berth, as first-year head coach Amy Bokker returns the team's leading scorer in Dana Lindsay (44 points in '08). California was not far behind in the poll with 27 points. Top scorer and All-MPSF honoree Alyse Kennedy (35 points) returns as well as Alex Tickner (21 points). Oregon placed fourth with a total of 22 points, and will have a very young group with over half of its roster being freshmen. However, two-time all-conference performers Alicia Burkhart (defender) and Ilsa van den Berg (attacker) are back in '09. UC Davis, St. Mary's, and Fresno State rounded out the poll. Midfielder PJ Hainley returns for the Gaels who placed in the MPSF Top-10 last year in scoring. Gone from Davis are leading scorers Katie McMahon (61 goals) and Katie McGovern (37 goals), though Christina Corso (23 goals) returns. Fresno State embarks on its first-year of competition. The 2009 conference season opens on Feb. 7