EDISON, NJ (Feb. 7, 2024) – The five-time defending champion, Fairfield University Stags, have been voted as the preseason favorites in 2024 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll, while Niagara University’s Rachel Crane was named Preseason Player of the Year, as voted on by the league's 10 head coaches.
Fairfield claimed nine first-place votes, tallying a league-high 99 points in the poll. The Stags went 14-5 overall last season with a 7-1 MAAC record, winning the program’s 14
th MAAC regular season crown in its history. Fairfield would cap off the season by winning its fifth consecutive MAAC Championship since 2018, becoming the league’s first program ever to win five championships in a row. Additionally, the Stags have clinched a conference-leading eight overall tournament titles dating back to 2001.
Last season’s MAAC runner-up, Siena College, was chosen second in the poll, garnering 87 points and the remaining first-place vote. Niagara (79) and Quinnipiac University (68), MAAC semifinalists from a season ago, were picked third and fourth in the poll, respectively. Rounding out the poll’s top-five was Mount St. Mary’s with 57 points.
Reigning MAAC Co-Midfielder of the Year and the top overall goal scorer in the MAAC last season, Niagara’s Crane was named as the Preseason Player of the Year and voted to the Preseason All-MAAC Team. Crane’s 56 goals led the conference and ranked 30
th in the NCAA while her 117 shot attempts also led the league. She averaged 2.95 goals per game, which ranked second in the MAAC and her 6.16 shots per game ranked fifth. On the defensive side of the field, Crane won 57 draw controls and averaged 3.00 draw controls per outing, marks that ranked seventh and eighth on the MAAC leaderboard, respectively. Over her career, Crane was selected to the All-MAAC First Team and MAAC All-Championship Team in 2023, and she was named MAAC Rookie of the Year and to the All-MAAC Second Team and All-Rookie Team in 2021.
The remainder of the Preseason All-MAAC Team and full Preseason Coaches’ Poll can be found below.
| 2024 Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll |
| 1 |
Fairfield |
99 (9) |
| 2 |
Siena |
87 (1) |
| 3 |
Niagara |
79 |
| 4 |
Quinnipiac |
68 |
| 5 |
Mount St. Mary’s |
57 |
| 6 |
Canisius |
50 |
| 7 |
Iona |
43 |
| 8 |
Manhattan |
27 |
| 9 |
Marist |
26 |
| 10 |
Rider |
14 |
| Preseason Player of the Year |
| Rachel Crane – Niagara |
| Preseason All-MAAC Team |
| Player |
Position |
Year |
Institution |
| Libby Rowe |
Attack |
Gr. |
Fairfield |
| Elizabeth Talluto |
Attack |
Gr. |
Fairfield |
| Kerri Gutenberger |
Attack |
Gr. |
Marist |
| Lexi Braniecki |
Attack |
Sr. |
Niagara |
| Paige Stachura |
Midfield |
Gr. |
Canisius |
| Kira Varada |
Midfield |
Jr. |
Iona |
| Rachel Crane |
Midfield |
Gr. |
Niagara |
| Jordan Bentley |
Midfield |
R-Jr. |
Siena |
| Jill Galanti |
Defense |
Sr. |
Canisius |
| Lindsey Barnes |
Defense |
Gr. |
Fairfield |
| Andrea Liotta |
Defense |
Gr. |
Manhattan |
| Sydney Huhtala |
Defense |
So. |
Niagara |
| Jenna Colabufo |
Defense |
Gr. |
Siena |
| Jody Chu |
Goalkeeper |
So. |
Canisius |
The 2024 MAAC Women's Lacrosse Championship will take place between April 28 and May 5, 2024. The six-team, single-elimination tournament will open on Sunday, April 28 with the opening round hosted by the higher seed of each matchup. The semifinals and championship final will be hosted by the top overall seed in the field and will be played on Friday, May 3 and Sunday, May 5. For all information regarding the 2024 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship, please visit
maacsports.com/wlax.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 43rd year of competition during the 2023-24 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College. Merrimack College and Sacred Heart University will join the MAAC as full members in the 2024-25 academic year, expanding the conference to 13 institutions.
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