ATTLEBORO, Mass. – With just under a month left before the start of its 2018 regular season, the Southern Vermont College women’s lacrosse team is working diligently on getting back to the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) postseason tournament for the fourth-straight year.
The league announced the results of its preseason poll on Friday with the Conference coaches voting the Mountaineers to end the season in second place of the standings. SVC received two of the eight-possible first-place votes to finish just one point behind Elms College in the rankings.
Southern Vermont, which finished in third place last year with a record of 5-2 in NECC action (8-6 overall), will be guided by fourth-year head coach Thomas L. Otero.
“This season, I am hoping to be one of the top-three teams in the Conference,” Otero said. “With some luck, we can be the top team. A lot will depend on the transition of new players and returning players stepping up.”
While the program graduated three All-NECC players last May, Southern Vermont will be comprised of a seasoned crew in 2018 with Otero returning 13 members to the field. Included in those are six seniors and four juniors.
“The three players who we lost hold every offensive record for SVC,” said Otero, “but our returning starters should provide the necessary speed and offensive firepower to help. I am hoping that we will be able to showcase not just three—but six or seven scorers who may not score as many goals individually, yet will maintain our game average as a group. We will also return as a veteran defense with this team, and we will have the benefit of having two seasoned goalies on the roster—both with above-average save percentages.”
In addition to those players coming back, Otero brings in six new faces to compliment the program and establish the largest roster in team history.
The Mountaineers won their first-round playoff game last year before being eliminated from the tournament with a 14-11 loss at No. 2 Elms in the semifinals. However, Otero is focused on making it back into the postseason before he starts thinking about making a run at the 2018 title.
“To make it to the Conference playoffs this season, we will need to play consistently in all aspects of the game with an emphasis on fewer turnovers and more ground balls as a team,” he commented.
SVC starts regular season play March 13 at Moravian College before opening up NECC action April 4 at Newbury College. The Mountaineers’ home opener will then be on April 5 with a 4 p.m. start against New England College. The date of Southern Vermont’s Senior Day is still to be determined.
2018 NECC Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll
1. Elms – 44 (5)
2. Southern Vermont – 43 (2)
3. Becker – 36 (1)
4. Wheelock – 34
5. Mitchell – 27
6. Bay Path – 18
T-7. Dean – 11
T-7. Newbury – 11
(Parentheses denote first-place votes)
– #LetsGoSVC –