A new head coach will be greeted by the best goalie in the conference, in the eyes of the rest of the coaches.
The 2015 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women’s lacrosse season quickly is approaching, and the preseason coaches poll was released Wednesday.
The Fort Lewis College Skyhawks, led by first-year head coach Julia Decker, were picked to finish third. Though the Skyhawks didn’t receive any first-place votes, they scored 26 points in the coaches poll.
Lindenwood, last season’s regular season conference champion, received five of a possible six first-place votes in the seven-team conference. Regis was picked second and earned one first-place vote, and Colorado Mesa was selected fourth behind FLC, but with one first-place vote.
FLC junior Alyssa Spencer, an alumna of Durango High School and daughter of Rhoda Schoonouer, was named the Preseason Goalie of the Year. She was named to the All-RMAC third team last season. She started all 17 games and made 133 saves during a 10-7 year.
Along with Spencer, FLC placed junior midfielder Ellie Carpenter and junior defender Katlyne Duffey on the Preseason All-RMAC team.
Regis’ Emily Behr was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year. She was named a First Team All-RMAC player a season ago with a conference-high 29 assists.
Regis’ Sierra Perrella is the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. She earned the Defensive Player of the Year award last season, when she averaged 1.59 caused turnovers per game.
Lindenwood’s Erin Abbott was named the Preseason Midfielder of the Year. She was First Team All-RMAC a season ago. She had 33 goals and 15 assists to go along with 24 forced turnovers, 47 groundballs and 42 draw controls in 19 games.
FLC will begin its season at noon Feb. 27 at Regis.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
