Official Release

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – It was announced Thursday that the Carthage College women's lacrosse team has been picked to finish second in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, according to the preseason coaches' poll. 
 
The Lady Reds, who finished second last year with an 11-6 overall record in 2017 and a 4-2 record in the CCIW, received 31 points in the poll and received one first place vote.
 
Carthage brings back a number of key returners in 2018, led by a quintet of all-conference selections from a season ago in seniors Rachel Mussell, and Maggie Allen, junior Kendell Santin and sophomores Nicole Bowman and Emily Lima.  Bowman was also the 2017 CCIW Newcomer of the Year.
 
Despite returning all but three players from a year ago, no loss may be felt more than that of Maddie Griffin, as the four-year all-conference selections concluded her career following the 2017 season as the programs all-time leader in points and assists, while ranking third in goals.
 
Picked ahead of the Lady Reds was Illinois Wesleyan University.  The Titans enter 2018 coming off the 2017 CCIW Tournament Title and a second place finish a season ago.  IWU received 36 points in the poll along with the six other first place votes.
 
Behind the Lady Reds are defending regular season champions, Augustana College.  Augie received 25 points in the poll after falling in the CCIW tournament championship match a season ago, going 6-0 during the regular season in the CCIW.
 
Rounding out the CCIW preseason poll was North Central with 22 votes, Carroll with 13, and Dubuque and Elmhurst with 12 and eight respectively.
 
The Lady Reds will open their season two weeks from Saturday, as Carthage heads to Minneapolis Minnesota for their season opener with Augsburg College on February 24th and will face Hamline University February 25th.