Feb. 13, 2004

FAIRFAX, Va. - The Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Association (IWLCA) released its 2004 Preseason poll Wednesday and George Mason received four points and is listed as a team receiving votes. Defending champion Princeton garnered the No. 1 position with 296 points, followed by Maryland (270), NCAA runner-up Virginia (268), Duke (260) and Loyola (229).

"I'm happy that George Mason is receiving preseason recognition in the polls," stated head coach Amy Umbach, who is entering her seventh year at Mason (47-50) and eighth overall as a head coach (55-58). "I know it's exciting for the players, the program and the university to see the school listed among some of the other great women's lacrosse teams from across the country. As nice as it is though to be recognized, I always tell my players that it's the final poll that matters most."

The Patriots return 14 letterwinners and 10 starters from last year's program that finished with a 9-8 overall record and tied for third in the Colonial Athletic Association with a 4-3 mark, advancing to the league tournament for the 10th straight year. All-CAA performers Kristy Manas (Jr., A, Harwood, MD/Southern), Lisa Hagan (Sr., M, Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood) and Meg Dentler (Jr., GK, Crofton, MD/Arundel) will join seven newcomers on the 2004 squad as the team searches for its first-ever NCAA berth.

George Mason's 16-game schedule is littered with eight teams ranked in the IWLCA preseason poll, including three teams rated in the top five. The Patriots open the 2004 season at GMU Stadium Sunday, Feb. 29, at 1 p.m. versus 11th-ranked North Carolina.

Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Preseason Poll
Rank, School, Points
1. Princeton, 296
2. Maryland, 270
3. Virginia, 268
4. Duke, 260
5. Loyola, 229
6. Georgetown, 221
7. Dartmouth, 207
8. James Madison, 174
9. Ohio State, 157
10. Penn State
11. North Carolina, 135
12. Boston University, 121
13. Syracuse, 109
14. Stanford, 99
15. Cornell, 89
16. Vanderbilt, 88
17. Notre Dame, 72
18. Yale, 56
19. Old Dominion, 51
20. Johns Hopkins, 48

ARV: Richmond, Ohio Univ., Delaware, Northwestern, Connecticut, George Mason, Rutgers, Temple, Boston College, Massachusetts