BAY CITY, Mich. - For the second year in a row, Concordia-St. Paul women's lacrosse has been picked to finish second in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The point totals in the poll are also identical to the 2020 preseason poll, with Grand Valley State topping the chart with 25 points and five first place votes followed by Concordia with 21 points and the other available first place vote. The two teams are also nationally-ranked entering the 2021 season, with GVSU ranked #11 and CSP #22 by the IWLCA Preseason Division II Coaches' Poll.
The poll order remained identical from 1-to-6 as the 2020 version, with the only difference a marginal point difference with fifth place Ashland coming in with nine points compared to the 2020 poll with 10 points.
Concordia opened its season last weekend, splitting with a pair of GLVC opponents in non-conference play, falling at #6 Indianapolis before rebounding with a win at Lewis. CSP has one more non-conference game against #2 Lindenwood on Saturday, March 6 in the home opener at the Concordia Dome at Sea Foam Stadium at noon.
League play opens at home in the Concordia Dome against Ashland on March 19 (6 p.m.) and March 21 (11 a.m.).
2021 Concordia St. Paul Preview
Concordia-St. Paul continued its rise as an emerging program in 2020, setting multiple program firsts including best start to a season (4-0), longest home winning streak (5) and first win over a nationally-ranked opponent, a 15-4 triumph over #14 Colorado Mesa. The Golden Bears then embarked on a challenging trip to Florida, where they were edged out 14-12 to #6 Regis, fell 14-9 to #10 Tampa and rebounded with an 11-10 overtime win over Florida Tech, who would eventually be ranked as well.
The 5-2 start, convincing win over a ranked team and narrow losses on the road to top-10 foes put CSP on the map, earning three consecutive rankings by Nike / US Lacrosse (16, 14, 16) and its first-ever top-25 selection in the IWLCA Coaches Poll, finishing ranked #25 when the season was abruptly ended.
The Golden Bears won't let up in 2021 under second year head coach Joe Nelson, either, opening the year at #6 Indianapolis and hosting #2 Lindenwood as part of a tough three game non-conference slate that also includes a road game at Lewis University.
CSP graduated its first group from the inaugural signing class that featured three 4-year starters on defense and the top two scorers (points, goals and assists) in program history on the attack.
But they return a lot, including senior goalie Katie Lottsfeldt, an All-GLIAC Second Team sophomore and Honorable Mention junior who is taking advantage of the additional eligibility offered by the NCAA due to COVID-19. She will anchor the defense along with senior Alexis Stanley, an All-GLIAC First Team pick as a sophomore.
Offensively, they return second-leading scorer Sarah Pierson who enters her senior year and second season in the program after transferring from Wilmington.
While the attack and defense have lost significant contributors, the midfield position remains intact and is led by sisters Katie Moynihan, a senior and Molly Moynihan, a sophomore, senior Margot Coomes, junior Mary Keating and sophomore Taya Schubert.
The returners are joined by eight newcomers and a pair of redshirt freshmen who will all look to step into new roles vacated by the first full graduating class from 2020.
