Date: February 10, 2006
Contact: Chris Hodgson (540) 458-8674
Release: Upon Receipt

W&L WOMEN'S LACROSSE RANKED 11TH IN IWLCA PRESEASON POLL
Generals Return 18 Letterwinners and Seven Starters

Senior Amanda Strickler

LEXINGTON, Va. -- The Washington and Lee women's lacrose team is ranked 11th in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) preseason poll which was recently released.

Defending National Champion The College of New Jersey sits atop the poll with 290 points and 10 first place votes, while Salisbury University is second with 284 points and three first votes. Middlebury College is third with 278 points and the other two first place votes.

W&L returns 18 letterwinners and seven starters from last season's 15-4 (8-0 ODAC) squad. The Generals also return four All-ODAC performers, including a pair of first team selections in senior attacker Amanda Strickler (Lexington, Va./Rockbridge County) and senior midfielder Rachel Wallick (Phoenix, Md./Notre Dame Prep).

Along with claiming their third consecutive ODAC Championship last year, the Generals also won their first-ever NCAA Tournament game with an 11-9 win over Amherst before falling to eventual NCAA runner-up Salisbury.

The 11th-ranked Generals open the 2006 season on Sat., Feb. 25 at No. 14 St. Mary's (Md.) at 3:00 pm.

2006 IWLCA NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll

1. The College of New Jersey 290 (10)
2. Salisbury University 284 (3)
3. Middlebury College 278 (2)
4. Colorado College 230
5. Gettysburg College 221
6. Amherst College 210
7. Bowdoin College 205
8. SUNY-Cortland 183
9. Williams College 151
10. Franklin & Marshall 146
11. Washington and Lee 145
12. Colby College 138
13. Union College 85
14. St. Mary's (Md.) College 77
15. Stevens Tech 70
16. Trinity (Conn.) College 65
17. Wesleyan University 58
18. Drew University 56
19. William Smith College 53
20. Tufts University 37

--GENERALS--