Greenville, SC – Conference Carolinas announced the 2023 Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll on January 31 with the University of Mount Olive Trojans being picked as the favorite.
The University of Mount Olive Trojans were picked first in the preseason poll with 80 points and eight first place finish votes. The Trojans, who finished with a 14-5 overall recorded, went 9-0 in Conference Carolinas action last year. They advanced to the Conference Carolinas Championship Tournament were they defeated the North Greenville Crusaders to advance to the championship game. In the championship game against the Belmont Abbey Crusaders, the Trojans claimed a 16-7 victory to be named the 2022 Conference Champions.
The Trojans were followed in the preseason poll by the Belmont Abbey Crusaders with 74 points and the remaining two first place finish votes. The Crusaders of Belmont, NC finished their 2022 campaign with an 11-8 overall record and were 8-1 in conference action. They advanced to the championship tournament where they defeated the three seeded Barton Bulldogs in the semi finals before falling to the Mount Olive Trojans in the championship. Belmont Abbey was followed in the preseason poll by the Barton College Bulldogs with 63 points. Barton went 10-8 overall last season and were 7-2 in conference play. The Bulldogs advanced to the championship tournament where they defeated the Southern Wesleyan Warriors 14-11 in the quarterfinals. However, they fell to the Belmont Abbey Crusaders in the semifinals to wrap up their season.
The North Greenville Crusaders and Emmanuel Lions were the next two schools picked in the preseason poll. The Crusaders of Tigerville, SC were picked fourth with 59 points. They finished last season with a 9-10 recorded and were 6-3 in conference. The Lions of Franklin Springs, GA picked up the fifth place pick in the poll with 48 points. Emmanuel wrapped up the 2022 season with a 9-7 record and were 5-4 in conference.
The Southern Wesleyan Warriors were picked sixth in the preseason poll with 32 points. They were followed by the Lees-McRae Bobcats in seventh with 30 points. The Conference Carolinas preseason poll was wrapped up by the Chowan Hawks (29), Converse Valkyries (25) and Erskine Flying Fleet (10).
Southern Wesleyan finished their 2022 campaign with a 6-12 overall recorded and were 4-5 in conference place. They advanced to the Conference Carolinas Championship tournament before falling to the Barton Bulldogs in the quarterfinals in a 14-11 final score.
The Warriors will return two of their top five scorers in
Jocelyn Cosgrove and
Yael Echeverria. Cosgrove, a graduate student from Simpsonville, South Carolina, recorded 15 goals and 11 assists last season. Her 26 points was the third highest on the season. Echeverria, a senior from Bluffton, South Carolina, wrapped up the 2022 season with 12 goals and two assists. The Warriors will welcome several newcomers to the field including freshman transfer
Lauryn Esposito.
Southern Wesleyan will kick off the 2023 season on the road as they travel down the road to Anderson, SC to take on the Anderson Trojans in their first ever Women's Lacrosse game on February 11. The Warriors will remain on the road for the Conference Carolinas opener on March 4 as they travel to Belmont, NC to take on the Belmont Abbey Crusaders. Southern Wesleyan will host their home opener on March 11 as they welcome the Barton Bulldogs to Central, South Carolina. The Conference Carolinas Championship Tournament will be held April 25-30. The quarterfinals will be held at the higher seeded schools on April 25, while the semifinals and finals on April 28 and 30 will be held in Wilson, North Carolina.
