Women's Lacrosse | 1/28/2022 11:26:00 AM

ROME, Ga.  The USA South Athletic Conference on Friday morning released its 2022 women's lacrosse preseason coaches poll, a listing that places Methodist at No. 5 in the poll with 63 points.

Defending regular-season champion Meredith College collected nine of eleven first-place votes -- coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team -- in totaling 99 points to sit atop the poll, seven points ahead of second-place Southern Virginia University, which collected the other first-place markers. Southern Virginia joined the USA South this 2021-22 athletic season.

Third place has a tie between Averett University and Piedmont University (76 points), which puts the Monarchs 13 points behind the Cougars & the Lions in the preseason league rankings.

Methodist finished third in the USA South East Division standings in 2021 and will return 11 starters to the field for the 2022 season. The Monarchs host St. Andrews University in their home opener on February 9, for a non-conference match-up at Monarch Stadium with a start time of 3 PM.