Westfield, Mass.— Reigning Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season champions Westfield State have been chosen by the coaches around the conference to win the 2023 MASCAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship. 

The Owls earned five first place votes for 47 points in this year’s poll after going a perfect 7-0 in MASCAC play last season. Returning for the Owls is attack Natalie DeMaio. During the 2022 season, she was third in the conference in goals with 53 while also collecting 12 ground balls and causing 12 turnovers to grab a spot on the All-Conference squad. 

Sitting in second place is Framingham State, reigning MASCAC Tournament Champions, with the final three first place votes for 45 points. The Rams were 6-1 during conference action and look to repeat their success with reigning MASCAC Offensive Player of the Year attack Hannah Guerin who closed out the regular season second in the league with 59 goals and a conference-leading 88 points. She also tallied 29 assists, 24 ground balls, 11 caused turnovers and three draw controls.

Tying for the third spot is Bridgewater State and Worcester State with 34 points. The Bears were 4-3 in league competition while the Lancers were 6-1. Returning for Bridgewater State is Delaney Langton. Last season, she was the team’s leading scorer with 35 goals along with seven assists, 42 points, 37 ground balls, 55 draw controls and 14 caused turnovers. For Worcester State, midfielder Lily Gendron tallied 39 goals and 18 assists for 57 points while also winning 69 draw controls. grabbing 59 ground balls and causing 35 turnovers. 

Coming in fifth in this year’s poll is Massachusetts Maritime with 24 points. The Buccaneers earned two wins last season during the conference slate. During the 2022 schedule, Cassie Llewellyn netted 29 goals with 15 assists along with 85 draw controls, 63 ground balls and 32 caused turnovers.  

Salem State is next in sixth with 17 points. The Vikings were 3-4 during the 2022 MASCAC campaign. Back on the field is All-Conference defender Jenna Wells. Last season, she finished with 11 goals and 16 assists while causing 26 caused turnovers and secured 36 ground balls.   

Rounding out the 2023 poll in seventh and eighth are Fitchburg State and MCLA with 16 and seven points, respectively. The Falcons attack Eva Kozikowski found the back of the net 39 times while assisting on 35 others, collecting 27 ground balls and causing eight turnovers. For the Trailblazers, Julia Graham registered 20 goals with eight assists for 28 points with 13 ground balls, nine caused turnovers and eight draw controls. 

The MASCAC women’s lacrosse teams begin the 2023 campaign over the next few weeks with non-conference action while conference play begins the on April 1st.