Full PSAC Release
 
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) released the 2024 Preseason Women's Lacrosse Coaches' polls today (Feb. 1), and the Lock Haven women's lacrosse team was picked fifth in the highly-competitive PSAC Western Division.
 
Seton Hill earned four of seven first-place votes to earn preseason favorites in the East, while IUP comes in behind them after earning three first-place votes. Slippery Rock and Mercyhurst are predicted third and fourth, with Lock Haven coming in right behind them at No. 5. Gannon and Edinboro round out the East as the six and seven teams, respectively.
 
In the Eastern Division, powerhouse West Chester received six of seven first-place votes to earn the top spot, while East Stroudsburg was picked second after earning one first-place vote. Kutztown and Millersville round out the top-four, while Bloomsburg, Shepherd and Shippensburg are slated five through seven.
 
Last season, Lock Haven finished fifth in the PSAC West with a 6-11 overall and 4-8 mark in conference play. In 2023, the Bald Eagles earned a victory over national-ranked Mercyhurst, after downing the No. 22 Lakers at home.
 
Leading the charge for the Bald Eagles in her ninth year at the helm is women's lacrosse head coach Lindsay Reese. Reese, who surpassed the 50-win milestone in 2022 has led the Bald Eagles to a winning record in seven of her nine seasons. A Lock Haven graduate in 2007, Reese led the Bald Eagles to the NCAA final four twice ('05 & '07) as a player.
 
On offense, the Bald Eagles return four-year starter and the team-leader in goals Abby Katrinak. Katrinak netted 38 goals in 2023, which finished just outside the top-10 in the PSAC.
 
Gabby Gunnip (34) and Josey Shaffer (30) also return after scoring 30-plus goals last season. Emma Williams also returns after leading the team in assists (15), while Shaffer led the program with 56 draw controls.
 
Lock Haven graduated three starters on defense, but return Kelsey Schultz, who started 10 games at defender as a junior. Maddy Lapiana also returns and brings significant experience to the back line.
 
Dana Mirigliano made 16 starts in net in 2023, where she secured 134 saves and six goalkeeper victories.
 
The Bald Eagles open the season by traveling to Ohio to visit Ashland on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 4 p.m.
 
The Bald Eagles home-opener is scheduled for Saturday, March 2 at 2 p.m. when they welcome non-conference opponent Daemen to Charlotte E. Smith Field.
 
The Haven remains at home for a Wednesday (March 6) non-conference clash against Wilmington, before hitting the road that Saturday (March 9) at noon to visit D'Youville.
 
The final tune-up before opening conference play will be on the road at Frostburg State at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 15.
 
The Bald Eagles open PSAC West action n Wednesday, March 20 at 2 p.m. when they host Mercyhurst.  
 
In all, the Bald Eagles will host eight games at their home field Charlotte E. Smith Field, where they saw the bulk of success last season with a 5-3 record.  
 
The Bald Eagles will pay tribute to their seniors on Saturday (April 27) at noon when they host Edinboro at Charlotte E. Smith Field.
 
The Bald Eagles have returned to campus for the spring 2024 semester and are in the full swing of practice leading up to the season-opener.