Westfield, Mass.— The Bridgewater State Bears have been selected to win the 2017 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Women’s Lacrosse Championship as voted on by the coaches from around the league.

The reigning MASCAC Tournament Champions, who were 6-1 in league play, had five first place votes for 47 points in this year’s poll. Back for the Bears are All-Conference honorees Melissa Renauld and Elizabeth Ettridge. Renauld tallied 47 goals and 29 assists for 76 points with 35 ground balls and 30 draw controls last season. Ettridge, the 2016 MASCAC Rookie of the Year, netted 33 goals and 13 assists for 46 points and added 20 ground balls plus 27 draw controls.

Westfield State is next in second with two first place votes for 44 points. The 2016 MASCAC Regular Season Champions finished with a 6-1 record during MASCAC play last year. First Team All-Conference honoree Sydney Lambert returns for the Owls after scoring 26 goals with seven assists for 33 points in her freshman season. She also had 52 draw controls and 21 ground balls to close out her first year.

Grabbing the final first place vote with 35 points is Fitchburg State. The Falcons also went 6-1 during the 2016 season. The team returns five All-Conference honorees from last season, including Ali Lafferriere who led the team with 54 goals and 23 assists for 77 points. She also finished with 29 ground balls and 28 draws to close out the season. 

Sitting in the fourth slot with 33 points is Worcester State. The Lancers earned a 4-3 record in league action last season. Alaina Martin finished third on the team in total points with 64, netting 40 goals and 24 assists while also collecting 14 ground balls and forcing 10 turnovers. 

Next in fifth and sixth are Framingham State and Salem State with 25 points and 19 points, respectively. The Rams had three wins during the 2016 conference season. Kimberly Foley returns to the squad after leading the team in goals with 56 and adding 10 assists, 59 draw controls and 49 ground balls on her way to earning All-Conference accolades. The Vikings finished with two wins last season. During the 2016 season, Courtney Smith, who returns for the team, found the back of the net on 40 goals while assisting on nine. She also grabbed 36 ground balls and 31 draws.

Closing out the 2017 poll in seventh and eighth are Massachusetts Maritime and MCLA with 13 and eight points, respectively. Stephanie Hunt returns for the Buccaneers after leading the squad with 43 goals and 20 assists for 63 points while also collecting 28 ground balls and 11 draws. For the Trailblazers, Second Team All-Conference honoree Natalie Caney is back after finishing last season with 33 goals, 10 assists,62 ground balls and 57 draw controls.

Bridgewater State kicks off their season on Saturday, February 25 with a non-conference contest while the other seven MASCAC institutions begin their schedule the following week with non-conference action. 

2017 MASCAC Women's Lacrosse Pre-Season Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

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