PAC Release

TRAFFORD, Pa. -- The Allegheny College women's lacrosse team was voted fourth in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the conference office on Thursday afternoon.

Despite finishing fourth, the Gators were one of four teams to earn a first-place vote. Top-ranked Grove City College led the league with four first-place votes and 76 points, followed by Washington and Jefferson College with three first-place votes and 72 points. Chatham University was third with a pair of first-place votes and 63 points, just four more than the Gators with 59.

Under the direction of first-year head coach Jessica Smith, the Gators are preparing for their third season as PAC members. In each of the last two years, Allegheny posted an 8-1 regular-season record against conference opponents, and in 2023, the Blue and Gold reached the PAC Championship Tournament finals against W&J.

The PAC also identified three Gators as Players to Watch for the upcoming 2025 campaign. At attack, Ema Caragein (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton LaSalle) returns after posting a career-high 55 points (38g-17a) as an All-PAC Second Team selection last spring. Midfielder Lauren Petrarca (Simi Valley, Calif./Royal) is a two-time All-PAC honoree and enters her senior season ranked ninth all-time with 175 career points. Junior Amelia Henderson (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) will lead the defense after causing a career-high 36 turnovers en route to All-PAC First Team accolades in 2024.

The Gators will open their spring schedule on the road on Saturday, February 15, when they face Ohio Wesleyan University at 12:00 p.m.