The Patriot League announced its 2010 women’s lacrosse preseason poll on Wednesday and the Mountain Hawks were selected second with 59 overall points, including four first place votes.  Defending league champion Colgate was picked to repeat as the Raiders garnered seven first place votes and 66 overall points.  Lehigh was tied with Navy for second, while Bucknell, Holy Cross, American and Lafayette rounded out the poll.  Also on Wednesday, junior Lauren Dykstra was named the preseason Offensive Player of the Year.  Dykstra claimed the 2009 Offensive Player of the Year award after totaling 79 points and leading the country in ground balls.

With the start of the second semester earlier this week the beginning of lacrosse season cannot be far behind.  The Lehigh women’s lacrosse squad will hit the practice field for the first time on Monday, January 25 as the Mountain Hawks begin their quest towards a Patriot League title.  Second year head coach Jill Redfern has a talented and experienced roster to work with which includes the last three Patriot League Rookies of the Year as well as last season’s Offensive Player of the Year.

One might assume that modesty is hard to come by in Division I athletes who also happen to attend academically top-tier institutions. However, this is not the case with Lehigh’s student-athletes and no one exemplifies this trend more than senior women’s lacrosse student-athlete Inneke Carmola.  Carmola’s success is undeniable. Last season, she was ranked 35th in the country in assists per game. Since her freshman year, Carmola has been one of the Mountain Hawks star athletes. As a freshman, she was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year and since, Carmola has earned a pair of All-Patriot League selections.

The Lehigh women’s lacrosse program will host a goalkeeping and shooting and clinic on Sunday, January 24 inside of Rauch Fieldhouse, located on the Goodman Campus.  The clinic will run from noon until 3:00 PM and will feature specialized shooting and goalkeeping instruction.  Girls between the ages of 10 and 18 are invited to attend and can register at Lehighsports.com.

Seniors Inneke Carmola and Kelsy Ferris and junior Lauren Dykstra were named tri-captains of the 2010 Lehigh women’s lacrosse team, head coach Jill Redfern announced. “These three players are loved and respected by their teammates,” Redfern said. “Our team has chosen individuals who represent our entire squad. The coaching staff is solidly behind them.  We are proud of the outstanding qualities they demonstrate on behalf of our student-athletes.”