Johnson City Times

The Tusculum University women's lacrosse team has been picked to finish ninth in the South Atlantic Conference preseason coaches poll, with three members of the Pioneer squad earning All-Conference recognition.

Poll voting was conducted by the 11 head coaches in the conference, while each school's athletic media relations office voted on the preseason All-Conference honorees.

Earning second-team preseason All-SAC honors were senior attack Tia Daniel and junior midfielder Lucy Brewer, while senior midfielder Kylie Marek was a third-team selection for the Pioneers, who finished 4-12 overall and 1-9 in the SAC last season. Tusculum returns six starters from last year's squad for second-year head coach Jenna Agostino.

Daniel was a third-team All-SAC selection last season as she led the team in goals (55), assists (19) and points (74), while scoring at least one goal in all 16 games. Her 55 goals and 74 points were each the second-most in a season in program history. The Langley, British Columbia native also led the team with 15 free-position goals while finishing fourth on team with 26 ground balls, second with 52 draw controls and second with 17 caused turnovers. Daniel enters the season ranked fifth in program history with 91 goals, eighth with 23 assists and sixth with 114 points. Daniel also ranks seventh in program history with 80 career draw controls.

Brewer started all 16 games last season in her first year with the Pioneers, finishing second to Daniel on the team in goals (30), assists (9) and points (39). Brewer led the Pioneers with 53 draw controls, was second on the team with 28 ground balls and third with 15 caused turnovers. The Williamstown, Australia native recorded at least one point in 13 of the Pioneers' 16 matches.

Marek started 13 matches last year and was third on the team to Daniel and Brewer in goals (26), assists (8) and points (34), while ranking third on the squad with 46 draw controls. Marek was fifth on the team with 11 caused turnovers. The Plantation, Florida native has scored 43 goals and 11 assists for 54 points in 24 career games, while collecting 69 draw controls to rank eighth in program history.

Wingate received 10 of 11 first-place votes to take the top spot in the coaches poll with 100 points, while Limestone had the other first-place votes and was second in the poll with 90 points. Lenoir-Rhyne (74 points) was third in the poll, while Lincoln Memorial and Newberry tied for fourth with 68 points apiece. UVA Wise was sixth with 54 points, followed by Catawba (49 points), Anderson (37) and Tusculum (27). Mars Hill was 10th with 24 points, while Coker was 11th with 14 points in the poll.

Tusculum opens its 2023 season on Saturday, February 4 at Pioneer Field against Lee, beginning at 1 p.m. The SAC opener will be Saturday, March 4 at Wingate while the regular-season finale is Saturday, April 22 at Mars Hill.

Original source can be found here