Women's Lacrosse: Bethany Selected Eighth in PAC Preseason Poll
Greenville, Pa. – The Bethany College women's lacrosse team was picked to finished eighth in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll, which was released Thursday afternoon along with the league's Players to Watch list.
The Washington & Jefferson Presidents were picked to finish first in the PAC followed by Chatham and Franciscan.
Saint Vincent College was picked fourth and was followed by Thiel College in fifth, Grove City College in sixth, Westminster College in seventh, Bethany College in eighth and Waynesburg University in ninth.
Grove City is fielding its inaugural NCAA Division III team this spring.
Bethany returns 11 for the 2022 season including their first four-year graduating class since the program had their inaugural season in 2019.
"This year is a bittersweet one as it is our first full graduating class- Sarah Sberna, Rikiah Wise, Cassidy Mailloux, and Trinity Dixon- a group of young women who came in 2018 to start this program, have been here through the ups and downs of COVID and have set an incredible legacy of passion for the game, perseverance, and leadership" said Head Coach Liz Geyer "All four have represented us in the PAC All-Conference teams in one way or another over the past 4 years and are eager to finally play a full season together".
Anchoring the Bison defense is senior goalkeeper Trinity Dixon. Dixon returns in the net for the Bison this season after the COVID year. The senior goalkeeper has recorded 256 career saves and has three wins.
All-PAC Honorable Mention honoree Mailloux adds strength to the Bison offense and defense. She was PAC Defensive Player of the Week in March. She has a career total of 33 caused turnovers, 53 groundballs and has 69 draw controls. Offensively, Mailloux has 19 career goals and five assists.
Sberna has started in all 22 games for the Bison. She has totaled 8 caused turnovers and scooped up 21 groundballs.
Offensively, the Bison return their core scorers from last season including All-PAC second team honoree, Rikiah Wise.
Wise returns as Bethany's leading scorer. She has 36 career goals and five career assists while shooting 79.3 percent on goal.
The Bison will look for support from sophomores Karley Trinidad and Alexa Taylor to help the Bison reach the back of the net.
"We are coming into this season well supported by our younger classes who have added talent and speed to our program and are excited for year four" added Geyer.
Bethany opens their season up on February, 26 at 4 pm on Don Ault Field inside Bison Stadium.
