BOSTON – The America East Conference announced the results of the 2020 Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll on Tuesday afternoon. Vermont is slated to finish fifth in the preseason rankings.
 
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America East Release
 
Voting was conducted by the league's head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own team. The Catamounts earned 26 points and have been selected in the top five for the fifth time in the last six years. Seven-time defending champion Stony Brook was the unanimous favorite with 49 points and seven first-place votes. UAlbany trailed in second place with 42 points and received the final first-place vote. New Hampshire landed in third place with 35 points and UMBC was picked to finish fourth with 35 points.
 
The Catamounts return a solid young core from last year's team, including Grace Giancola who made the All-Rookie Team. Giancola started all 15 games and tallied 24 points with an even 12 goals and 12 assists. She set the school's single-game record with 14 draw controls at Winthrop last March. Dani Paterno is the top returning scorer from 2019. Paterno registered 24 points as a freshman with 20 goals and four assists.
 
Vermont will open the 2020 season with a trip to Merrimack on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 12 p.m. The matchup is the first ever meeting between the two programs.
 
2020 AMERICA EAST WOMEN'S LACROSSE PRESEASON POLL
No., School, Points (1st Place Votes)
1. Stony Brook, 49 (7)
2. UAlbany, 42 (1)
3. New Hampshire, 35
4. UMBC, 28
5. Vermont, 26
6. Binghamton, 19
7. UMass Lowell, 18
8. Hartford, 7