February 3, 2012 The University of Mary Washington women's lacrosse team is ranked 17th in the nation in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association's preseason poll. The Eagles, coming off a 13-8 season a year ago, return All-Americans Catherine Kennedy and Allie Kimmelman for 2012.

Among the Eagles' opponents that gained national rankings, defending national champion Gettysburg is ranked first, Salisbury is ranked sixth, Catholic is ranked 11th, and Washington & Lee is ranked 14th. The Eagles open the season on February 19 at home against St. Joseph's (N.Y.) College.

            IWLCA Division III Preseason Poll (2 February 2012)

                                           2011 Record       Votes   (1st pl) Final 2011           

1. Gettysburg                            19-4                396   (17)          1

2. TCNJ                                    20-1                365   (3)            3

3. Cortland                                21-2                337                    4

4. Bowdoin                                18-4                333                    2

5. Franklin & Marshall                 19-3                299                    7

6. Salisbury                                19-3                298                    6

7. Hamilton                                18-2                274                    9

8. Trinity (CT)                           18-1                254                    5

9. Middlebury                            11-6                226                   12

10. Colby                                  15-5                213                    8

11. Catholic                               15-4                177                   10

12. Stevens                                16-4                160                   11

13. Messiah                                18-2                155                   13

14. Washington & Lee                15-5                145                   14

15. Tufts                                   12-7                139                   15

16. Amherst                                9-6                   92                   17

17. Mary Washington                13-8                  51                   20

18. Bates                                    9-7                   50                   19

19. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps     16-3                  47                   16

20. Elizabethtown                      16-4                  44                   18

Also receiving votes: Ithaca, Skidmore, Union, Williams