Masera, Stony Brook Lead the Way in 2024 CAA Women's Lacrosse Preseason Honors

Masera, Stony Brook Lead the Way in 2024 CAA Women's Lacrosse Preseason Honors

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Miles McQuiggan

RICHMOND, Va. (Jan. 31, 2024) – Defending CAA Women’s Lacrosse Champion Stony Brook was again tabbed as unanimous preseason favorite by its rival coaches, while Seawolves midfielder Ellie Masera collected Preseason Player of the Year honors for the second-straight year.
 


The CAA’s nine head coaches were surveyed on a 12-player Preseason All-CAA team and a predicted order of finish. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team.
 
Stony Brook collected all eight possible first-place votes after a dominant showing in its first year in the league, going 7-0 and winning the CAA title in May. The Seawolves advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament to extend a streak to 10 consecutive seasons playing to at least that point – a stretch that also includes four NCAA Quarterfinal appearances. Stony Brook went 15-4 in 2023 and outscored opponents by 6.89 goals per game, which ranked fourth nationally.
 
Masera collected CAA Midfielder of the Year honors in 2023 along with first-team All-America recognition from USA Lacrosse Magazine and second-team accolades from the IWLCA and ILWomen. The Long Islander was CAA Player of the Week four times, an All-CAA first team honoree, and Most Outstanding Player of the CAA Championship in a junior campaign in which she was sixth nationally with 71 goals and eighth with 95 points. Masera ranked 20th nationally with 6.32 draw controls per game; all three numbers led the CAA.
 
Masera is one of four Seawolves on the list of 12 Preseason All-CAA selections. Attacker Kailyn Hart – who was second in the CAA with 55 goals in 2023 – midfielder Jaden Hampel, and defender Clare Levy were also named to the list. Masera, Hart, and Levy have collected Preseason All-America accolades from USA Lacrosse Magazine this winter.
 
Drexel edged Towson – which received one first-place vote – for the No. 2 spot in the preseason rankings. The Dragons, who earned an NCAA at-large selection in 2023, went 12-6 and finished tied for second at 5-2 in the CAA. Drexel earned two selections on the Preseason All-CAA team: defending CAA Attacker of the Year Corinne Bednarik and the 2023 CAA Goalkeeper and Rookie of the Year, Jenika Cuocco. Towson, which was tied with Drexel at 5-2, earned three spots on the list via attackers Lindsey Marshall and Milana Zizakovic along with defender Blair Goodrich.
 
Delaware was chosen to finish fourth by the league’s head coaches, with last year’s CAA Defensive Player of the Year, Madison Hranicka, named to the Preseason All-CAA list. Hofstra was chosen fifth, Monmouth sixth – with attacker Caroline Brennan earning Preseason All-CAA honors – while William & Mary was picked seventh and Elon eighth. League newcomer Campbell rounded out the poll with Sam Bischoff named to the Preseason All-CAA team.
 
The 2024 CAA Women’s Lacrosse season begins February 9 and culminates May 2 and 4 in Stony Brook, New York, at the CAA Championship. This year’s national championship will be played in Cary, North Carolina.
 
2024 CAA Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll
School (1st) Points
  1. Stony Brook (8)
 64
  1. Drexel
 54
  1. Towson (1)
 51
  1. Delaware
 40
  1. Hofstra
 37
  1. Monmouth
 29
  1. William & Mary
 23
  1. Elon
 15
  1. Campbell
 11
 
2024 CAA Women’s Lacrosse Preseason All-Conference Team
Name School Cl. Pos. Hometown
Corinne Bednarik Drexel 5th A Glenmoore, Pa.
Caroline Brennan Monmouth Jr. A Downingtown, Pa.
Kailyn Hart Stony Brook Gr. A North Babylon, N.Y.
Lindsey Marshall Towson Sr. A Catonsville, Md.
Milana Zizakovic Towson Jr. A Calgary, Alberta
Sam Bischoff Campbell Sr. M Pomona, N.Y.
Jaden Hampel Stony Brook Sr. M West Islip, N.Y.
Ellie Masera Stony Brook Sr. M Eastport, N.Y.
Blair Goodrich Towson Sr. D Chester, Md.
Madison Hranicka Delaware Gr. D Mendham, N.J.
Clare Levy Stony Brook Sr. D Rocky Point, N.Y.
Jenika Cuocco Drexel R-So. GK Sound Beach, N.Y.
                                   
Preseason Player of the Year: Ellie Masera, Stony Brook
 
Honorable Mention: Anna Hackett, M, Elon; Caroline Hertzberg, D, William & Mary; Belle McHugh, D, Drexel; Taylor Mennella, A, Hofstra; Rebekah Taylor, D, Campbell; Lizzie Yurchak, M, Delaware
 
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