PAC Release
TRAFFORD, Pa. -- The Allegheny College women's lacrosse team was selected fifth in the 10-team preseason coaches' poll released Thursday by the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) for the upcoming 2026 season.
Following a sixth-place finish in 2025, the Gators are predicted to climb the standings this spring. Allegheny received 56 points in the poll, 11 more than sixth-place Saint Vincent College (45) and 12 more than seventh-place Thiel College (44). The four teams at the top of the coaches' poll were Grove City College (89), Washington and Jefferson College (76), Chatham University (74), and Westminster College (73).
The PAC also announced its Players to Watch for the 2026 campaign. The watchlist included five Gators, including a pair of returning All-PAC selections. Anchoring Allegheny's defensive corps will be senior
Amelia Henderson (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny), the 2025 PAC Defensive Player of the Year. Henderson logged career highs in ground balls (66) and caused turnovers (39) while starting all 17 contests last season. Second-year midfielder
Erin Lowthert (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area), an All-PAC Honorable Mention, returns after scoring 32 goals during her debut season.
Sophomore midfielder
Caroline Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./Liberty) and goalies
Ella Ashton (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) and
Emma Foley (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge) were also identified as Gators to watch.
Allegheny opens 2026 with back-to-back home games, beginning with a 1 p.m. matchup against Muskingum University on Saturday, February 21.
