From FSCMocs.com GRAND LAKE, Colo. – Florida Southern achieved another program first on Monday as the Moccasins received its highest-ever preseason ranking in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II Preseason Poll at No. 5 that was released Monday afternoon. The Moccasins earned 292 points to finish 30 points behind fourth-ranked New Haven and 25 points in front of both LIU Post and Rollins, who are both tied for sixth. Prior to this season, the highest ever preseason ranking in the IWLCA Preseason Coaches’ Poll was last season when they were preseason ranked ninth. Florida Southern and Rollins are the only Sunshine State Conference teams ranked in the preseason poll. Rollins and FSC were picked to finish first and second respectively in the SSC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Two-time defending NCAA National Champion Adelphi earned the top spot in the preseason poll as they earned 394 points and 16 out of a possible 20 first place votes. LeMoyne, who is the defending national runner-up from a season ago, is ranked No. 2 as they earned the final four first place votes and 377 points. Lindenwood, who defeated the Mocs, 14-13 in double overtime in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, opens the season ranked third and New Haven is at No. 4. FSC, LIU Post and Rollins are followed in the preseason poll at No. 8 by Lock Haven, while Stonehill is ninth and West Chester (Pa.) rounds out the Top 10 at No. 10. The next 10 of the preseason poll begins with Limestone at No. 11, while Mount Olive is 12th and Mercyhurst is ranked 13th. Seton Hill is 14th and they are followed at No. 15 by Grand Valley State and No. 16 by Queens (N.C.). Dowling opens the season 17th, while Bentley is 18th, Regis (Colo.) is 19th and St. Anselm rounds out the poll at No. 20. For the second consecutive season, the IWLCA will rank 20 teams again this year. Eight of FSC’s opponents this appear in the IWLCA Preseason Poll: No. 1 Adelphi, #3 Lindenwood, #7 Rollins, #11 Limestone, #12 Mount Olive, #14 Seton Hill, #15 Grand Valley State and  Queens (N.C.), who is ranked 16th. In addition, two of FSC’s opponents received votes in the preseason poll – Indiana (Pa.) and Lenoir-Rhyne. It mark the fourth time in program’s five-year history that the Mocs have earned a preseason ranking. Last season, they began at No. 9 and climbed as high as No. 4 before finishing the 2015 season ranked sixth in the final poll. Florida Southern, who went 19-4 overall last season, comes into the season looking to replace three of its top four offensive players that were lost to graduation. FSC’s four seniors last season scored 169 of the school’s school record 360 goals (47 percent) in 2015 and accounted to a little over 47 percent (269 points) of its total points (569 points). The Mocs top returning goal scorer from last season’s team is sophomore midfielder Emily Santoli (Fort Salonga, N.Y.), who was third on the team in goals scored with 41 and was fourth in points scored with 51 and earned Third-Team IWLCA All-South Region honors. FSC also welcomes back senior defender Gabby Barowski (Alexandria, Va.), who was First-Team All-America selection in 2015. Two other players return for the Mocs, who are led by fifth-year coach Kara Reber, that scored 25 or more goals last season as senior attacker Ashley Robertson (Ellicott City, Md.) scored 36 goals and had 46 points in 2015 and junior attacker Kendall Kerge (Edgewater, Md.) accounted for 29 goals and 34 points a season ago. FSC’s defense last season took home the NCAA Division II national statistical title in caused turnovers as they averaged 13.7 per game and set a new school record for caused turnovers with 316. Florida Southern opens the 2016 campaign with an exhibition game on Tuesday, Feb. 16 against Wales at 6 p.m. and will open its regular season two nights later on Thursday, Feb. 18 against preseason 15th-ranked Grand Valley State at 7 p.m. Both of those games will be played at Bryant Stadium. The first poll of the regular season will be released on Monday, Feb. 22. IWLCA Divison II Women’s Preseason Poll

Rank	School	Votes (FPV)
1.	Adelphi	394 (16)
2.	LeMoyne	377 (4)
3.	Lindenwood (Mo.)	360
4.	New Haven	322
5.	Florida Southern	292
T6.	LIU Post	267
T6.	Rollins	267
8.	Lock Haven (Pa.)	257
9.	Stonehill	229
10.	West Chester (Pa.)	219
11.	Limestone	213
12.	Mount Olive	168
13.	Mercyhurst	161
14.	Seton Hill	153
15.	Grand Valley St.	144
16.	Queens (N.C.)	111
17.	Dowling	68
18.	Bentley (Mass.)	66
19.	Regis (Colo.)	42
20.	St. Anselm	33

Also receiving votes: Indiana (Pa.), Bloomsburg (Pa.) and Lenoir-Rhyne.