Women's Lacrosse Checks In At Number Five In ECC Preseason Coaches' Poll

West Babylon, N.Y. –In a tight vote, Mercy outpaced Roberts Wesleyan by one point to take the top spot in the East Coast Conference women's lacrosse preseason poll. Both schools had a student-athlete earn one of the conference's major preseason awards as well, with Roberts Wesleyan's Lindsey Brinkel (Rochester, N.Y.) taking home the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honor, while Micayla Brady (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) of Mercy was selected the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.   

Mercy earned four first place votes to Roberts Wesleyan's three to finish in the poll's top spot by one point (46-45). With a record of 12-2, Mercy won the ECC Regular Season Championship and advanced to the NCAA Championship for the second straight season in 2021. The Mavericks lose three All-Conference performers off of last year's squad, including the reigning ECC Goalkeeper of the Year, Emma Jacobsen, but the cupboard is hardly bare with nine All-Conference selections back.

One of those nine returning standouts is Brady. Brady was the ECC Defender of the Year, a First Team All-Region pick, and an Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Second Team All-American. She compiled 60 ground balls and 51 caused turnovers on the season. Her caused turnovers per game total (3.64) ranked second in all of Division II, while her ground balls per game mark (4.29) ranked fifth.

Roberts Wesleyan just missed taking first place in the poll on the heels of the best season in program history. The Redhawks won their first-ever ECC Championship and also made their first appearance in the NCAA Championship. In addition, Roberts advanced to the national semifinals, becoming the first ECC squad to do so since 2015. The Redhawks lose six starters, five of whom were All-Conference selections, but do return five other All-Conference honorees including Brinkel.

Brinkel tallied an ECC leading 91 points and 57 assists on the season. She also ranked fourth in the conference with 34 goals. Those totals put her among the national leaders, as well. Her assist total was tops in Division II, while her assists per game mark of 3.56 ranked second. She also finished fifth in points and ninth in points per game (5.69). On top of leading her squad to its best-ever season, Brinkel earned numerous individual accolades. She was named the ECC Attacker of the Year and earned a spot on the IWLCA All-Region First Team and the IWLCA All-America Second Team.

Molloy and St. Thomas Aquinas round out the expected ECC Championship participants with third and fourth place finishes in the poll. Bridgeport and D'Youville were close behind St. Thomas Aquinas in the race for the last playoff spot.

University of the District of Columbia wraps up the poll in the No. 7 spot. The Firebirds return to action this season after opting out of the 2020 campaign.

2022 ECC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll

( ) - first place votes
* - UDC's record from 2020 season

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Lindsey Brinkel, Sr., A, Roberts Wesleyan
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Micayla Brady, Sr., D, Mercy