STONY BROOK TABBED AGAIN AS PRESEASON FAVORITE IN CAA WOMEN’S LACROSSE; DREXEL’S JENIKA CUOCCO NAMED PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dylan Smith
RICHMOND, Va. – Reigning CAA Champion No. 14 Stony Brook has been selected as the preseason favorite in women’s lacrosse for the third straight season by the league’s coaches. USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Second Team All-American and two-time CAA Goalie of the Year
Jenika Cuocco of Drexel has earned CAA Preseason Player of the Year honors.
The league’s nine head coaches were surveyed on a 12-player Preseason All-CAA team and predicted order of finish. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team.
Stony Brook collected seven first-place votes and 55 total points after securing its second-straight CAA Championship and 11
th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Finishing 2024 with an 18-3 record and a perfect 8-0 mark in league play, the Seawolves collected four wins over top 20 RPI teams. A pair of preseason USA Lacrosse Magazine All-Americans,
Avery Hines and
Charlotte Wilmoth, will front the nationally-ranked and CAA favorite Seawolves in 2025. Midfielder
Isabella Caporuscio joins Hines and Wilmoth on the all-conference preseason team after earning a CAA All-Rookie Team selection in 2024.
Cuocco captured Preseason Player of the Year after an All-American caliber season in 2024. The New York product led Drexel to its fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance behind a 13-6 overall record. Cuocco finished atop the national leaderboard with a .569 save percentage and 224 saves. The two-time reigning CAA Goalie of the Year also ranked second in the nation with 11.94 saves per game and eighth with a 9.05 goals-against average.
The Dragons edged Towson for second place in the poll, though both programs received one first-place vote in this season’s preseason poll. Drexel, fresh off a 7-1 mark in CAA action last season, received a league-best five accolades with fellow returners
Allison Drake,
Camryn Ryan and
Ellie Wall joining Cuocco on the All-CAA Preseason Team. The Tigers wrapped up the 2024 conference slate with a 6-2 record and will turn to 2024 All-CAA Second Team selection
Milana Zizakovic, who received preseason praise from the league’s coaches.
Elon was picked fourth in this season’s rankings after a 5-3 league record and a CAA Tournament berth in 2024. Hofstra finished right behind the Phoenix in fifth, being separated by one point in the voting. 2024 All-CAA Second Team selection
Sammy Fisher of the Phoenix, and a pair of Pride players, All-Rookie Team honoree
Christine Dannenfelser and attacker
Nikki Mennella, also claimed spots on the preseason team.
Delaware and Monmouth went sixth and seventh, respectively, followed by William & Mary and Campbell to round out the preseason poll. Camels’ midfielder
Sam Bischoff also secured CAA preseason honors from the conference’s coaches.
CAA Preseason Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Poll
Team (1st) Points
Stony Brook (7) 55
Drexel (1) 48
Towson (1) 42
Elon 37
Hofstra 36
Delaware 31
Monmouth 18
William & Mary 11
Campbell 10
CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Jenika Cuocco, Drexel
Preseason All-CAA Team
Name School Cl. Position Hometown
Allison Drake Drexel Grad. A Easton, Pa.
Sammy Fisher Elon Sr. A Parkland, Fla.
Nikki Mennella Hofstra R-So. A Smithtown, N.Y.
Charlotte Wilmoth Stony Brook Grad. A South Salem, N.Y.
Milana Zizakovic Towson Sr. A Alberta, Canada
Sam Bischoff Campbell Grad. M Pomona, N.Y.
Ellie Wall Drexel So. M Duxbury, Mass.
Isabella Caporuscio Stony Brook So. M Mountain Top, Pa.
Avery Hines Stony Brook Sr. D Mount Airy, Md.
Camryn Ryan Drexel R-Sr. D Horsham, Pa.
Christine Dannenfelser Hofstra So. D Bayport, N.Y.
Jenika Cuocco Drexel R-Jr. G Sound Beach, N.Y.
Honorable Mentions: Delaney McDaniel, Delaware (A) / Caroline Brennan, Monmouth (A) / Danielle McNeely, Monmouth (M) / Alexandra Fusco, Stony Brook (M) / Paige Gilbert, William & Mary (M) / Carrie Johnston, Drexel (D) / Reagan Kuehn, Elon (D) / Shannon Sullivan, Towson (D)