Marquette WLAX Picked Fourth in Preseason BIG EAST Poll

NEW YORK – The Marquette University women's lacrosse team is picked fourth in the league's preseason coaches' poll, it was announced on Friday.

Shea Garcia, Madison Kane and Jocelyn Miller were selected for the league's all-preseason team, marking the second consecutive year MU has had three players garner preseason All-BIG EAST honors.

The projected finish of fourth is the second highest preseason mark for the Golden Eagles since they joined the league for the 2014 campaign (projected third before the 2019 season).

Marquette qualified for two straight BIG EAST semifinal appearances in 2018 and 2019 and hosted a BIG EAST tournament game for the first time in program history last spring. The Golden Eagles finished 9-9 (3-2) overall, placing second in the conference, for its best league finish in program history.

Garcia became the first Golden Eagle in program history to take home BIG EAST Freshman of the Year honors last season. The sophomore attacker from Manhasset, N.Y., scored 29 goals to go along with eight assists. She led the team (minimum 30 shots) with an .859 shots on goal percentage.

Kane, who started 17 of her team's 18 games at midfield last season, netted 14 goals and tallied nine assists on the year. Perhaps the best game of her career came against Louisville on Feb. 10 when she posted her first career hat trick in a 15-12 win. She's also a two-time Academic All-BIG EAST honoree.

A junior from Manorville, N.Y., Jocelyn Miller has started in all 36 games for MU in the past two seasons. She earned first team All-BIG EAST honors last season for her stellar play on the back end. Miller finished the season with 37 ground balls, 25 caused turnovers and one draw control in 2019.

The Golden Eagles begin their season on Sunday, Feb. 9 at Notre Dame. Their first home game is Friday, Feb. 14 at Valley Fields against Cincinnati.

BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Denver 25 (5)
2. Georgetown 21 (1)
3. Villanova 16
4. Marquette 14
5. Old Dominion 9
6. Butler 5
(first-place votes)

BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Quintin Hoch-Bullen, Denver, A

BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Katie Hudson, Georgetown, Sr., D

Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
Carson Gregg, Denver, Sr., GK*
Quintin Hoch-Bullen, Denver, A*
Hannah Liddy, Denver, Jr., A
Molly Little, Denver, Sr., M*
Eliza Radochonski, Denver, Jr., A
Michaela Bruno, Georgetown, Sr., A
Katie Hudson, Georgetown, Sr., D*
Natalia Lynch, Georgetown, Sr., M*
Mollie Miller, Georgetown, Jr., D
Shea Garcia, Marquette, So., A
Madison Kane, Marquette, Jr., M
Jocelyn Miller, Marquette, Jr., D
Glory Johnson, Old Dominion, Sr., A
Sydney Frank, Villanova, So., D*
Alex Moro, Villanova, So., GK
Grainger Rosati, Villanova, Sr., M*
Liz Trojan, Villanova, Sr., A*

*unanimous selection
^extra players added due to a tie in voting

Marquette's BIG EAST Preseason Projections (actual finish)
2020: Fourth
2019: Third (Second)
2018: T-Sixth (T-Third)
2017: Sixth (Sixth)
2016: Seventh (Fifth)
2015: Seventh (Seventh)
2014: T-Seventh (Seventh)

Marquette's BIG EAST All-Preseason Team Selections
2020 (3): Shea Garcia, Madison Kane, Jocelyn Miller
2019 (3): Grace Gabriel, Jocelyn Miller, Cate Soccodato
2018 (1): Grace Gabriel
2017 (2): Allison Lane, Julianna Shearer
2016 (1): Elizabeth Goslee
2015 (1): Elizabeth Goslee (Preseason Co-Defensive Player of the Year)
2014 (0): None