Feb. 14, 2008
2008 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Webguide 
American was chosen to win the Patriot League Championship in a vote by the seven Patriot League head coaches and sports information directors in the 2008 Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll. Coaches and SID's may not vote for their own team. Lehigh sophomore Inneke Carmola and American senior Caitlin Bell have been chose as the inaugural Patriot League Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively.
The Eagles received six first-place votes and 64 points overall. The Eagles, under second-year Head Coach Katie Woods, will look to improve upon their record of 9-9 overall, and 3-2 in the League a season ago. Woods has the luxury of welcoming back the 2007 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, Jackie Lane, as well as the 2007 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, Caitlin Bell. The Eagles also return Second-Team All-Patriot League goalkeeper Kristine Vida.
Coming in second in the poll was two-time defending Patriot League champion Holy Cross, who received six first-place votes and 62 points overall. The Crusaders finished the 2007 season with an unblemished record in League play and a 13-6 mark overall. Head Coach Stephanie Ridolfi has several key components returning from a season ago, including Kristine Corkum, who finished fifth in the League in points per game in `07. Freshman Megan Fenton, a First-Team All-Patriot League selection a year ago, will also look to improve upon her first season of collegiate competition.
With two first-place votes and 45 points overall, Colgate comes in at the third position in the poll. The Raiders, who won back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005, will be looking to improve on fourth-place finish from a season ago. Second-year Head Coach Heather Bliss will look to a quartet of 2007 Second-Team All-Patriot League selections, led by seniors Lindsay Pittard and Jess Van der Meulen, to lead this year's squad.
Lehigh is the fourth team in the 2008 preseason poll, garnering a total of 45 points. The Mountain Hawks will once again be led by 2007 Patriot League Coach of the Year Liz Ota, who led the team to a second-place finish in 2007. Ota will rely heavily on 2007 Patriot League Rookie of the Year Inneke Carmola to lead the offensive attack.
Bucknell (30 points), Navy (30) and Lafayette (23) round out the poll.
Carmola finished her freshman season with 46 goals, six assists and 52 total points, which was good enough for sixth in the League. She also led the League with five game-winning goals. Bell led the League's second-best statistical defense, which surrendered just 10.99 goals per game. Individually, she was fourth in the League in ground balls per game, and third in caused turnovers.
The top four teams in the standings at the end of the season will play in the Patriot League Tournament on April 25 and 27 at the highest seed's location. The 2008 season opens February 16 with games featuring American, Colgate and Lehigh.
For more information on the 2008 women's lacrosse season, please refer to the 2008 Women's Lacrosse Webguide
2008 Patriot League Preseason Poll
1. American 64 (6 first-place votes)
2. Holy Cross 62 (6)
3. Colgate 45 (2)
4. Lehigh 40
5. Bucknell 30
Navy 30
7. Lafayette 23
