IWLCA releases preseason poll, CUA checks in at No. 11

WASHINGTON – The IWLCA released its preseason poll on Tuesday and CUA is ranked No. 11.  This is the second preseason poll in which the Cardinals are nationally ranked, checking in at No. 13 in the Lacrosse Magazine Poll.  The five-time defending Landmark Conference champion  Cardinals recently began practice and have their sights set on February 26 for the season opener.

CUA returns a pair of All-Conference performers from 2012 in Lindsay Brophy and Tricia Pehnke.  Brophy earned the conference’s Rookie of the Year award and was also named to the All-Region Team.

The Cardinals went 16-6 a season ago, including a perfect 4-0 mark within the Landmark Conference.  CUA won two home games to capture its fifth straight conference title, and then won two more games in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to its third Regional Final in the last five seasons.

CUA has a tough schedule ahead of it in 2013, facing seven teams who are ranked in the preseason poll, including No. 1 Trinity (Conn.).

CUA hosts Frostburg State at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 26.  The Cardinals then host nationally ranked Salisbury on March 1 at 1.