Women's Lacrosse Picked Third In Lacrosse Magazine Pre-Season Division II National Rankings, Hoffman, McGeachey And Darrell Tabbed As Skyhawk Tri-Captains
January 25, 2007
If the pre-season prognosticators are correct, it should be another exciting season for the Stonehill College women's lacrosse team in 2007.
The Skyhawks of ninth-year Head Coach Michael Daly are picked third in the 2007 pre-season Division II national rankings released by Lacrosse Magazine, as three North Region squads claim the top three spots in the poll, with C.W. Post listed at the number one position followed by defending NCAA champion Adelphi. 2006 NCAA national runner-up West Chester is fourth, followed by Limestone, Lock Haven, Gannon, Queens (N.C.), Bloomsburg and Merrimack, respectively.
Daly, who sports an overall mark of 120-25 (.828) entering his ninth season as Stonehill's mentor, will welcome back nine letterwinners from last year's Skyhawk squad that posted an overall mark of 14-3 and captured its eighth straight Northeast-10 Conference regular season crown with a 10-0 league mark, capping the year with a 14-10 triumph over Merrimack in the Northeast-10 tournament title match to earn the program's seventh straight playoff championship.
"It is an honor once again to be respected nationally in Division II circles, and that honor is a reflection of the tradition and hard work by our student-athletes," Daly says. "We have another very tough schedule ahead and welcome the challenge of competing against the best that both our conference and the country have to offer."
The Skyhawk schedule includes four of the other nine schools listed in the Lacrosse Magazine pre-season poll, including a home date with top-ranked C.W. Post as well as road matches at Adelphi, Queens and Merrimack. Stonehill begins its 2007 slate on Tuesday, March 6th with a non-league contest at Belmont Abbey.
Daly has also announced that senior Tracey Hoffman (Nashua, N.H./Nashua), along with juniors Amanda McGeachey (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) and Kristin Darrell (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip), have been tabbed as tri-captains for the 2007 edition of Skyhawk women's lacrosse. Hoffman netted 47 points last spring and has earned all-conference accolades during her career, while McGeachey has played both on the field and in goal for Stonehill during her career. Darrell, the 2005 Northeast-10 Freshman of the Year, earned All-America accolades as a rookie as well and finished last season with 71 goals and 89 points.
"Leadership is always a key to any successful team, and this trio has demonstrated their commitment to the continued success of our program, both on and off the field," Daly says of his tri-captains. "They each bring a special quality and a high level of competitiveness that will help bring their teammates together, and I look forward to working with them and facing the challenges of the season."
