Feb. 8, 2005

RICHMOND, Va. - George Mason's women's lacrosse team was picked to finish third in the 2005 Colonial Athletic Association, according a preseason poll of the league's eight head coaches.

James Madison, the two-time defending CAA champions, received all seven first-place votes and is favored to win its third straight CAA women's lacrosse title. The Dukes earned a total of 49 points in the poll to finish first, while CAA runner-up William & Mary had one first-place vote and was picked second with a total of 38 points. George Mason (32) edged Towson (31) by one vote and Hofstra (30) by two votes. Delaware (19), Old Dominion (17) and Drexel (8) round out the list.

George Mason, JMU, Towson, William & Mary and Hofstra are all ranked in two national preseason polls.

The Patriots will play at least nine preseason nationally-ranked teams on the schedule, including defending champion and No. 1 Virginia and national powerhouse Maryland at George Mason Stadium. Overall, there are five teams on Mason's 2005 docket ranked in the preseason top 10 in two national polls.

George Mason enters the season with 9 starters and 17 letterwinners returning from a team that finished 7-10 overall last year and advanced to the four-team CAA Tournament for the 11th straight year with a 4-3 conference mark. The Patriots finished the season ranked 19th in the final Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) and InsideLacrosse.com polls.

Senior attacker Kristy Manas (Harwood, Md.) is back after scoring a team-high 24 goals. Seniors Tracy Waterson (Niskayuna, N.Y.) and Jeannine Ohler (Malvern, Pa.) along with junior Sarah Bryant (Fairfax Station, Va.) also return as each scored 21 goals last year.

First team all-CAA and second team ILWCA All-American goalkeeper Meg Dentler (Sr., Crofton, Md.) (9.88 GAA, 224 saves) returns for the Patriots, as does second-team all-CAA defender Michele Brady (Jr., Fairfax, Va.). CAA all-tournament team selection Brandi Evans (Fort Howard, Md.) is also back for Mason.

The CAA Women's Lacrosse Championship will be held April 30 - May 1, with a final four setting at the highest seed.

	2005 CAA WOMEN'S LACROSSE PRESEASON COACHES POLL
	1. James Madison		  (7) 49
	2. William & Mary		  (1) 38
	3. George Mason	                      32
	4. Towson			      31
	5. Hofstra			      30
	6. Delaware			      19
	7. Old Dominion			      17
	8. Drexel			       8
*Coaches were restricted from voting for their own team