Author’s Note: Will post interviews with coaches separately
via SSC press release
MELBOURNE, Fla. – Sunshine State Conference coaches select Florida Southern College as the preseason number one for the fourth time in five years. With 36 points and six first-place votes in the poll, the Moccasins are odds-on favorites to win a fifth consecutive conference title.
Rollins College has been deemed the biggest threat to FSC’s title defense, the Tars received 31 points and picked up the final first-place vote in the ranking. The University of Tampa edges Saint Leo University for third in the poll, 23 points to 22 points, while Florida Tech’s 17 points earns fifth place. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Palm Beach Atlantic University round out the preseason ranking with 12 points and 6 points, respectively.
Last season, Florida Southern won the SSC regular season and postseason tournament for the fourth consecutive year. The Moccasins went on to defeat Florida Tech in the NCAA regional and then took down East Stroudsburg University in the national semifinals. FSC’s season came to an end in the national title game after a hard-fought battle against Le Moyne College. The national title appearance was the third straight for Florida Southern, which includes winning the 2016 National Championship.
Sunshine State Conference play opens up on March 16th with Florida Southern hosting Florida Tech. The SSC Championship will take place on April 25th and April 28th at a site not yet determined. The NCAA Division II postseason for women’s lacrosse will start at non-predetermined sites on Friday, May 10th and concludes Sunday, May 19th at Grand Valley State University Lacrosse Stadium in Allendale, Michigan.
Below are the full results of the 2019 SSC preseason coaches’ poll. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their teams (points: 6-5-4-3-2-1, first-place votes in parentheses).
2019 SSC Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll |
Rank |
School (FPV) |
Total Points |
1 |
Florida Southern (6) |
36 |
2 |
Rollins (1) |
31 |
3 |
Tampa |
23 |
4 |
Saint Leo |
22 |
5 |
Florida Tech |
17 |
6 |
Embry-Riddle |
12 |
7 |
Palm Beach Atlantic |
6 |
SSC Women’s Lacrosse History: National Champions |
Conference Champions | All-SSC Teams | All-Americans
Previous SSC Women’s Lacrosse Polls |
Year |
Predicted
Winner |
Actual
Finish |
Actual
Winner |
Predicted
Finish |
2018 |
Florida Southern |
1st |
Florida Southern |
1st |
2017 |
Florida Southern |
1st |
Florida Southern |
1st |
2016 |
Rollins |
2nd |
Florida Southern |
1st |
2015 |
Florida Southern |
1st |
Florida Southern |
1st |