FULL RELEASE
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.— The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) announced the 2019 women’s Lacrosse Preseason Awards on Tuesday.
The awards were voted on by the conference’s 10 head coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes.
PRESEASON COACHES POLL
In the coaches poll Regis and Lindenwood were both picked to win the RMAC with 77 points each and each team garnering five first-place votes. These two teams battled in the RMAC Tournament Championship game last year with Lindenwood getting a 19-14 win. The two teams met again at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II (DII) Midwest Regional Tournament with Regis notching a 15-14 win to advance to the semifinal round. The Rangers made program history, playing in their first semifinal game at the national championship, but fell short to Le Moyne. Lindenwood’s only loss of the season was to Regis as they finished with a 19-1 overall record (9-0 RMAC). The Rangers finished last campaign 17-5 overall (8-1 RMAC).
Colorado Mesa were picked third in the poll garnering 64 points. The Mavericks finished last season 12-4 overall and 7-2 in the conference. Westminster was picked to finished fourth with 51 points, while Fort Lewis rounds out the top five with 48 points. The Griffins were 5-4 in the RMAC and the Skyhawks were 6-3 in the RMAC in 2018.
Preseason Coaches Poll (first-place votes)
T-1. Regis (5) – 77
T-1. Lindenwood (5) – 77
3. Colorado Mesa – 64
4. Westminster – 51
5. Fort Lewis – 48
6. Rockhurst – 42
7. UCCS – 33
8. CSU-Pueblo – 31
9. Oklahoma Baptist – 17
10. Adams State – 10
PRESEASON PLAYERS OF THE YEAR/ALL-RMAC
Regis’ Wendy Donier was voted the Preseason Attacker of the Year. Donier started all 22 games in 2018. She ranked third on the team with 78 points, while scoring 56 goals and registering 19 assists. The senior had .740 shots on goal percentage, 27 ground balls and caused 20 turnovers defensively. She set a career-high with seven points in the 21-7 win over Univ. of Indianapolis in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Carly Fedorowski of Lindenwood was selected the Preseason Midfielder of the Year. Fedorowski earned Second Team All-RMAC honors in 2018. She made started in 19 games and appeared in all 20 contests. The junior ranked fifth on the team in goals with 32 and sixth in points with 42. She was second on the team with three game-winning goals and netted the game-deciding score in the RMAC Tournament Championship game. Her performance led the Lions to RMAC Regular-Season and Tournament titles.
Teammate Morgan Reader was tabbed as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Reader finished last campaign an IWLCA Third Team All-American and First Team All-Region. She was also a First Team All-RMAC selection. The senior defender ranked third on the team in caused turnovers (23) and ground balls (43) and was fifth in draw controls (23). In each of the respective categories, she set career-high marks.
Regis’ Elle Crawford was named the Preseason Goalie of the Year. Last year as a freshman, Crawford made 19 starts in 20 games. She posted a 12-5 record and faced 408 shots, tallying 153 saves for a save percentage of 49.0 percent. Crawford tallied eight caused turnovers and picked up 31 ground balls throughout the season.
Preseason All-RMAC
Eight of the 12 student-athletes on the 2019 Preseason All-RMAC team were also 2018 All-RMAC First Team or Second Team selection. Regis had the most preseason picks with six student-athletes named to the preseason team.
Preseason All-RMAC Team
G – Elle Crawford, Regis
A – Wendy Donier, Regis
A – Maria Johnson, Lindenwood
A – Kyleigh Peoples, Regis
A – Ali Vanek, Regis
M – Carley Fedorowski, Lindenwood
M – Olivia Hayden, Colorado Mesa
M – Sarah Myres, Regis
D – Morgan Reader, Lindenwood
D – Erin Koehler, Colorado Mesa
D – Lauren Hurd, Regis
D – Hanna Meek, Rockhurst
The first women’s lacrosse games are scheduled for Feb. 8 with conference games scheduled to start Feb. 16. Click here to view the 2019 RMAC Lacrosse Composite Schedule.