NEWS
Four Lax Scholar-Athletes Earn Preseason All-Conference Nods; ‘Cats Picked Fourth
The lacrosse team is back in action Saturday at Richardson Stadium.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – For the second straight season, the Davidson women’s lacrosse team has been picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic 10’s Preseason Poll, the league office announced Thursday.
The Wildcats picked up 72 points and one first-place vote after back-to-back semifinal appearances at the A-10 Championships, trailing only Saint Joseph’s (87 points | 4 first-place votes), Massachusetts (88 points | 1 first-place vote) and Richmond (91 points | 4 first-place votes).
In addition to the poll, Amanda Monahan, Noelle Cegielski, Erin Cooke and Julianne Carey were named to the Preseason All-Conference roster.
Monahan, who was twice named a USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American Honorable Mention, led Davidson to its most wins in program history during the 2022 season (13), while also matching the school record for most wins by a goalkeeper in a single season (12). Entering her senior season this February, the Massachusetts native held a 10.61 goals against average during her junior year, which ranked 23rd nationally. She also ranked top-5 in the nation in total saves (185) and third in save percentage (.512).
Cegielski has anchored Davidson’s defense through the first two years of her tenure and averaged 1.28 caused turnovers per game last season en route to a First Team All-Conference honor after her sophomore season. The junior defender earned a Preseason All-Conference selection in 2022 as well, as she enters the 2023 season with 76 ground balls and 61 caused turnovers in her career.
Carey and Cooke were also recognized at attack, as Carey was the league’s Rookie of the Year in 2021 and Cooke was a First Team selection at the conclusion of last season. Carey led the Wildcats with 66 draw controls in 2022, while scoring 31 goals and dishing 18 assists. Cooke made her way onto the First Team last season, after leading the A-10 with 36 total assists and 2.25 assists per game, while ranking in the top-15 nationally in both categories and leading the ‘Cats in total offense during 2021 and 2022.
Cooke, Carey, Cegielski and Monahan are slated to lead the Wildcats into opening day on Saturday, Feb. 11 against High Point University. Game time is slated for 1 p.m. The ‘Cats have an exhibition match vs. Queens University this Saturday at Richardson Stadium.