Defending Champions Canisius College Chosen as Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Favorites

MAAC Conference Press Release Edison, NJ – The 2012 defending MAAC Women’s Lacrosse champions, the Canisius College Golden Griffins, have been chosen as the preseason favorites to three-peat in 2013 as determined by a vote of the conference’s seven head coaches. Canisius won the 2011 and 2012 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship defeating top-seeded Fairfield University in both years’ championship match-ups winning 13-8 in 2011 and 15-11 in 2012. The Griffs went 4-2 in the conference and 10-9 overall during their repeat championship campaign last season. Canisius’ Morgan Leonard was chosen as the 2013 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year. Leonard, a member of the 2012 All-MAAC 1st Team, was chosen as the 2012 Co-Defensive Player of the Year. She led the MAAC with 3.00 caused turnovers per game and also ranked second in the MAAC with 3.67 ground balls per game in league play. Canisius topped the poll with 44 points. Fairfield followed with a close second place finish in the poll with 42 points. Marist College tapped in at third with 33 points, while Iona College tallied 29 points for fourth. Siena College finished in fifth receiving 26 points, followed by Manhattan College with 13 points and Niagara University with 9 points. The preseason All-MAAC team consists of Fairfield’s Chloe Mangan and Melanie Raso, Iona’s Kylie Gregory and Marist’s Ashley Miller at attack. The midfielders are Canisius’ Leonard and Lindsey Morgan, Fairfield’s Courtney Chmil, Marist’s Jamie Romano, and Siena’s Katie Maguire. Canisius’ Gabby Kotas, Marist’s Christine Astarita, and Siena’s Amanda Peguillan were selected at defense. Fairfield’s Katie Keenan was chosen as the goalkeeper. Preseason Coaches’ Poll 1. Canisius 44 2. Fairfield 42 3. Marist 33 4. Iona 29 5. Siena 26 6. Manhattan 13 7. Niagara 9 Preseason All-MAAC Team Attack Chloe Mangan Fairfield Attack Melanie Raso Fairfield Attack Kylie Gregory Iona Attack Ashley Miller Marist Midfield Morgan Leonard Canisius Midfield Lindsey Morgan Canisius Midfield Courtney Chmil Fairfield Midfield Jamie Romano Marist Midfield Katie Maguire Siena Defense Gabby Kotas Canisius Defense Christine Astarita Marist Defense Amanda Peguillan Siena Goalkeeper Katie Keenan, Fairfield Preseason Player of the Year Morgan Leonard, Canisius