SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The Susquehanna University women’s lacrosse team has been picked to finish second in the Middle Atlantic Conference preseason coaches’ poll, the conference office announced Tuesday.

The Crusaders (12-5 overall, 7-1 MAC in 2002) return 11 letterwinners and nine starters from last year’s team which won the first MAC championship in program history and advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs.

First-year head coach Kate Scattergood will rely on a pair of returning first-team All-MAC selections in senior midfielder Kelly Smith and senior goalkeeper Giulia Umile, who was also a first-team IWLCA Metro Regional All-American last year.

The MAC has expanded from nine to 11 teams this season with the elevation of Moravian and Wilkes to varsity status. Drew, last season’s regular-season champion and winner of eight straight MAC titles until last year, earned 10 of 11 first-place votes to finish ahead of Susquehanna, Scranton and Widener in the poll.

Susquehanna will open the 2003 season on Tuesday, March 11 against Dickinson on the West Lacrosse Field.