PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Plymouth State University women's lacrosse team was picked to finish fourth in the Little East Conference (LEC) as the league announced its Preseason Coaches' Poll on Friday.
 
Plymouth State earned one first-place vote and 50 points to finish just behind Eastern Connecticut State (51 points, one first-place vote). Defending LEC Tournament champion Western Connecticut State was picked to repeat, claiming six first-place votes for 60 points, while Southern Maine (52 points, one first-place vote) was picked second.
 
Keene State (37 points), UMass Dartmouth (27), UMass Boston (24), VTSU Castleton (15), and Rhode Island College (8) rounded out the poll.
 
Head coach Becky Dale begins her fourth season at the helm after leading the Panthers to unparalleled success last spring. PSU finished 16-4 overall, one win shy of the program record, went 8-0 in conference play, and advanced to the LEC Tournament finals for a remarkable 11th straight season. Although the Panthers were upset in the title game, the team earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament, where Dale orchestrated a 20-16 win over Marymount University (Va.) in the opening round before succumbing to #8 York College in the second round.
 
Despite graduating several impact players, Dale returns plenty of talent bolstered by the program's largest recruiting class in a decade. Senior attack Morgan Cunningham (Wrentham, Mass.) earned All-LEC recognition last spring after leading the league in assists per game (2.47) and finishing second in points per game (4.93), totaling 37 goals and 37 assists in just 15 games. Junior attack Sammy Murphy (Harrisville, R.I.) added 27 goals and 12 assists last season, while sophomore midfielder Gracie Menicci (Pepperell, Mass.) is expected to take on a larger role after posting 13 points in 16 games.
 
Dale will lean on veteran leadership from senior Katie Moore (Salem, N.H.) and junior Grace Campo (Chelmsford, Mass.) to anchor the defense. Moore has started every game over the past two seasons, while Campo leads all returners in ground balls and caused turnovers.
 
Plymouth State opens the 2026 season at Saint Joseph's College of Maine on Feb. 18 before hosting the University of New England in its home opener on Mar. 7. The Panthers will also compete in the Spring Fling Lacrosse Tournament in Panama City Beach, Fla., in mid-March before opening conference play at home against Eastern Connecticut State on Mar. 22.