BOSTON, MA – The 2013 GNAC Women's Lacrosse Pre-Season Poll has been announced and Saint Joseph's College had been picked to finish fifth, according to a vote of the league's head coaches.

Saint Joseph's, which finished with a 5-4 GNAC record and an overall mark of 8-6 a year ago, received 55 points in the 2013 pre-season poll. First-year Head Coach Amanda Cahoon is optimistic that the Monks can improve on the team's 2012 performance and hopes the Royal Blue can produce a lengthy tournament run this spring.

Norwich University, the defending GNAC regular season and conference playoff champions, have been tabbed as the Pre-Season favorites for the 2013 season, receiving eight first place votes as well as 97 total points in the voting process. The remaining two first-place votes went to Lasell College, who were selected to finish second in the GNAC, receiving 89 total points in the poll.

The Cadets, who finished the 2012 season with a 14-2 overall mark and a perfect 9-0 record conference play, return two All-GNAC performer's from last year's championship team, that bowed out to Middlebury College in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2012. Offensively, Norwich will look to Junior Grace Fitzpatrick (Falmouth, ME) , a 2012 First-Team All-Conference selection . Defensively, Norwich returns sophomore Gina Conroy (Amherst, NH), a 2012 Second Team All-Conference member. While the Cadet's did lose a talented senior class, which included five first team All-Conference members, the 2013 team return's a strong core to defend their title.

Lasell College, picked to finish second in the GNAC 2013 Pre-Season poll, will look to challenge the Cadet's for the top spot in the upcoming season. The Lasers return four All-Conference members from the 2012 season, including the 2012 Offensive Player of the Year, junior attacker Brittney Wuorio (Bolton, MA). Additionally, Lasell returns the 2012 Coach of the Year, in Caitlin Connolly. Lasell finished second in the 2012 GNAC regular season and advanced to the GNAC championship game before losing to eventual champion Norwich University, 17-6. The Lasers, who advanced to the ECAC Semi-Finals before bowing out to Smith College, will look to build off of last season's strong campaign and challenge for the GNAC Championship in the 2013 season.

Emerson College, who received a total of 78 points in the 2013 Pre-Season poll, was selected to finish third in the upcoming 2013 season. The 2012 season saw the Lions compile an 8-7 overall record, while finishing 6-3 in the GNAC regular-season. The 2012 team pushed through the GNAC playoff's, before falling in the Semi-Finals to Lasell College, 11-7. The Lions will return a strong core of players, and look to advance to the championship in the up-coming season.

With 74 points, Simmons College has been selected to finish in fourth place in the 2013 season. A 2012 GNAC Semifinalist, the Sharks will look to improve off of their 6-3 in-conference record, and challenge for the 2013 GNAC Championship in the up-coming season.

Rivier College received 49 points in sixth place, while Mount Ida College finished with 41 points, good enough for a seventh place finish. Emmanuel College received 35 points in eighth, while St. Joseph (CT) finished in ninth with 18 points, just above Anna Maria College who was selected tenth with a total of 14 points.

2013 GNAC WOMEN'S LACROSSE PRESEASON POLL

COURTESY OF GNAC SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE