Women's Lacrosse Tabbed As Top Division II Squad In Lacrosse Magazine's Pre-Season Rankings, Defending National Champion Skyhawks Earn Top Spot In Poll

December 27, 2005

Lacrosse Magazine Releases 2006 Preseason Rankings

by Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff

Dec. 22, 2005

BALTIMORE -- Four defending national champions, including all three women's NCAA champions, will repeat as title-winners in 2006, according to Lacrosse magazine's annual preseason college rankings, released in the January/February issue.

The rankings, compiled by Lacrosse magazine staff with consultations from coaches and other members of the press, predict the women's teams of Northwestern, Stonehill and The College of New Jersey to repeat as champions of NCAA Divisions I, II and III, respectively, and Herkimer to repeat as the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) men's champion.

Duke, an NCAA finalist in 2005, ranks atop Division I, ahead of defending champion and preseason No. 2 Johns Hopkins. Le Moyne, which qualified for the four-team Division II tournament in 2005, was picked to win the championship this season. No. 2 New York Institute of Technology won the title last season. In Division III, 2005 finalist Middlebury was picked to end No. 2 Salisbury's run of three-straight NCAA crowns. In NJCAA women's play, Anne Arundel will unseat Catonsville as national champion.

The rankings appear below and in the January/February issue of Lacrosse magazine. Expanded college previews will run in the March issue. The magazine is online at www.laxmagazine.com.

Lacrosse Magazine's 2006 Preseason Rankings

NCAA Division II - Women

1. Stonehill

2. Adelphi

3. C.W. Post

4. West Chester

5. Limestone

6. Queens

7. Lock Haven

8. Pfeiffer

9. Gannon

10. Philadelphia