IRVING, Texas – James Madison’s women’s lacrosse team was chosen as the preseason favorite in the 2024 American Athletic Conference preseason coaches’ poll
 
The Dukes, who are ranked No. 6 in the ILWomen/IWLCA preseason poll, received four first-place votes from The American’s head coaches to edge No. 10 Florida, which received three first-place votes.
 
James Madison attack Isabella Peterson was the coaches’ unanimous choice as The American’s Preseason Attack Player of the Year, while Florida midfielder Emily Heller was named as the Preseason Midfielder of the Year. Temple defender Katie Shallow was chosen as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, while East Carolina’s Brynn Knight was the Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
 
James Madison went 19-3 overall and 6-0 in conference play in 2023, winning the American Athletic Conference regular-season title in the Dukes’ first season in the league. The Dukes, who reached the quarterfinal round of the NCAA tournament, will be led by Peterson, the returning IWLCA first-team All-America pick who set American Athletic Conference single-season records with 91 goals and 114 points in 2023.
 
Peterson joins fellow attackers Katelyn Morgan (21g, 35a) and Maddie Epke (17g, 28a) as well as midfielder Taylor Marchetti (23g, 6a) as JMU’s representatives on The American’s preseason all-conference team.
 
Florida went 17-4 and finished No. 9 in the final IWLCA poll in 2023 after the Gators won the American Athletic Conference tournament title and reached the second round of the NCAA Championship. The Gators, who have won nine consecutive conference tournament titles, including four as members of The American, return a number of key players from last year’s squad, including Heller, who shared American Midfielder of the Year honors in 2023 after she had 39 goals, 40 ground balls and 46 draw controls. Heller was one of three unanimous preseason all-conference choices from Florida, along with attackers Maggi Hall (47g, 36a) and Danielle Pavinelli (47g, 21a).
 
Temple was third in the preseason poll. The Owls look to bounce back from a 7-9 campaign in 2023 behind a veteran squad paced by Shallow, who had 43 ground balls, 53 draw controls and 23 caused turnovers to lead a stout Owl defense. Shallow and midfielder Belle Mastropietro (39g, 20a, 94 dc) were unanimous preseason all-conference choices, while attack Mackenzie Roth (21g, 16a) earned preseason honors as well.
 
Cincinnati and East Carolina tied for fourth in the preseason poll with 18 points each. The Bearcats went 11-7 overall and 3-3 in The American last season behind breakout star Camryn Callaghan, who scored 56 goals with 13 assists as a true freshman on her way to American Freshman of the Year honors. Callaghan and defender Dani Mlkvy (35 gb, 114 dc, 23 ct) were unanimous preseason all-conference choices, while midfielder Ava Goeller (42g, 15a) was chosen to the 16-player team as well.
 
East Carolina went 10-8 overall and 3-3 in The American last season as the Pirates put scares into top-10 opponents Duke, North Carolina and Florida. First-year head coach Brittany Dipper will look to Knight (.487 sv%) to anchor the defense, while unanimous preseason all-conference attack Carolina Kimel (42g, 29a) returns as the Pirates’ leading scorer.
 
Vanderbilt was sixth in the preseason poll as the Commodores look to get back to the conference tournament, which will be played at their home stadium in 2024. Old Dominion was seventh in the poll and had defender Katie McGrain (43 gb, 23 ct) on the preseason all-conference team.
 
The 2024 lacrosse season for American Athletic Conference teams begins Saturday, Feb. 10, while conference play begins March 16. Each team in The American will play six conference games, facing the other six teams in the conference in a single-round-robin scheduling format. 
 
The 2024 American Athletic Conference Women’s Lacrosse Championship is scheduled for May 2 and 4 at the Vanderbilt Lacrosse Complex in Nashville. 
 
 
 
2024 American Athletic Conference Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll

	1.	James Madison (4)	34
	2.	Florida (3)	33
	3.	Temple	23
	4.	Cincinnati	18
		East Carolina	18
	6.	Vanderbilt	15
	7.	Old Dominion	6
		first-place votes in parentheses

 
 
2024 American Athletic Conference Preseason Attack Player of the Year
Isabella Peterson, James Madison *
 
2024 American Athletic Conference Preseason Midfielder of the Year
Emily Heller, Florida
 
2024 American Athletic Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Katie Shallow, Temple
 
2024 American Athletic Conference Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Brynn Knight, East Carolina
 
 
2024 American Athletic Conference Women’s Lacrosse Preseason All-Conference Team
Camryn Callaghan, A, Cincinnati *
Ava Goeller, M, Cincinnati
Dani Mlkvy, D, Cincinnati *
Caroline Kimel, A, East Carolina *
Brynn Knight, G, East Carolina
Maggi Hall, A, Florida *
Emily Heller, M, Florida *
Danielle Pavinelli, A, Florida *
Maddie Epke, A, James Madison *
Taylor Marchetti, M, James Madison
Katelyn Morgan, A, James Madison
Isabella Peterson, A, James Madison *
Katie McGrain, D, Old Dominion
Belle Mastropietro, M Temple *
Mackenzie Roth, A, Temple
Katie Shallow, D, Temple *
 
* unanimous selection