EDISON, NJ - Fairfield University has been selected as the preseason favorites and the Stags standout graduate student Kelly Horning has been named Preseason Player of the Year in the 2022 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches.
The Stags received 77 points in poll and six first-place votes, making them the favorite to win a fourth consecutive MAAC Women's Lacrosse title in 2022. Posting a 13-2 overall record and 10-1 MAAC mark in 2021, Fairfield claimed the conference regular season championship (its second straight) and won the MAAC Championship crown (its third straight) to cap off the season. In total, the Stags have won sixth MAAC Championships dating back to 2001, which is tied with Canisius for the most league titles.
Siena College, the MAAC runner-up the past two seasons, was a close second in the poll, earning 75 total points and the final three first place votes. Behind the Stags and Saints in third-place was the Monmouth University Hawks, claiming 65 votes to round out the league's top-three.
Reigning MAAC Midfielder of the Year, Horning was named 2022 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year and a unanimous choice to the Preseason All-MAAC Team. The graduate student led the Stags with 37 goals and added 10 assists for 47 points. A true two-way midfielder, Horning also ranked second in the conference in ground balls with 3.00 per game, second in caused turnovers at 1.87 per game, and ninth in draw controls with 3.67 per contest. She was the only MAAC player among the top-10 in all three of those categories. In addition to her major award, Horning has also been a two-time All-MAAC First Team honoree and a selection to three MAAC All-Championship Teams.
Joining Horning as the only other unanimous selections to the Preseason All-MAAC lineup was Niagara's goalkeeper, Michelle Messenger. The rest of the Preseason All-MAAC Team can be found below.
2022 MAAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll
| PLACE |
TEAM |
VOTES (First Place) |
| 1. |
Fairfield |
77 (6) |
| 2. |
Siena |
75 (3) |
| 3. |
Monmouth |
62 |
| 4. |
Niagara |
48 |
| 5. |
Quinnipiac |
43 |
| 6. |
Marist |
41 |
| 7. |
Canisius |
22 |
| 8. |
Manhattan |
21 |
| 9. |
Iona |
16 |
The 2022 MAAC Women's Lacrosse Championship will take place from April 30 through May 8. The six-team, single-elimination championship will be hosted by the higher seed of each match.
