WOMEN’S LACROSSE PEGGED TO FINISH FOURTH IN ECC PRESEASON POLL

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (Feb. 17, 2009) - The Molloy College women's lacrosse team was picked to finish fourth in the East Coast Conference Preseason Poll, which was sent out on Tuesday. The Lions will be looking to improve on a 2008 season that saw them go 10-7 overall and 2-4 in the league.

The Lions return junior captain Rebecca LaFlare (Lindenhurst, N.Y.), who will be counted on from the attack position yet again after tallying 40 goals last year. Nine of which came in the free position.

Junior midfielder Kristie Sosnowski (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) returns from a big year where she was slotted third in draw controls per game (5.06). She was also 24th in ground balls per game (3.22) and 27th in caused turnovers per game (1.44). Senior Erin Brady (Long Beach, N.Y.) will add experience at attack, and sophomore midfielder Hayley Lacey (Levittown, N.Y.) hopes to improve on last year's total of 18 goals.

On defense, the Lions will be led by senior captain Kelly LaClair (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) who finished a strong 2008 season with 21 caused turnovers and 37 ground balls. She was also named to the WomensLacrosse.com All-America second-team - making her the first in the history of the program.

Also expected to contribute on the defensive end are junior Samantha Modik (Levittown, N.Y), and sophomore's Christina Metelenis (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) and Lauren Kenny (Levittown, N.Y.).

Between the pipes, senior goaltender Alicia Frisch (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) returns and will look to top last year's 11.61 GAA, good for 13th in the nation. Frisch is coming off a 2008 that saw her post an 8-6 record with 109 saves. Senior Carmen Sanfilippo (Hicksville, N.Y.) returns for her final season and will compete with sophomore Jackie Bove (North Massapequa, N.Y.) for time in goal.

Throughout the ECC, Adelphi was selected to finish first with 23 points while arch rival C.W. Post finished just behind at second with 21 points. Dowling was chosen to place in third with Molloy and St. Thomas Aquinas rounding out the fourth and fifth spot in the conference.

Molloy will start its 2009 season against Dominican College on March 3 under the lights at the Dean G. Skelos Sports Complex in Rockville Centre, N.Y. The opening draw is slated for 6 p.m.

2009 East Coast Conference Preseason Poll

1. Adelphi (Three First Place Votes)
2. C.W. Post (Two First Place Votes)
3. Dowling
4. Molloy
5. St. Thomas Aquinas