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

The Crusaders (7-9 overall, 5-5 MAC) return 14 letterwinners and eight starters from last year's squad, which finished fifth in the conference and defeated Widener 11-9 in the opening round of the conference playoffs.

Entering her fourth season as head coach, Kate Scattergood will look for offense from junior attack Kaitlyn McInnis (39 goals in 2005) and senior midfielder Chrissy Carfello, who was limited by injury to 17 goals in seven games after scoring a school-record 53 goals in 2004.

Messiah received five first-place votes and 93 points to earn the top spot in the poll, just ahead of Drew (2 firsts, 91 points) and Scranton (4 firsts, 88 points). Susquehanna, Widener, Elizabethtown , King's, Lycoming, FDU-Florham, Moravian and Wilkes complete the survey.

Susquehanna opens its 2006 season on Monday, March 6 against Muhlenberg in West Palm Beach , Florida , and begins its home schedule on Monday, March 20 against Montclair State.