Rock Hill, S.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs have been chosen as the favorites in the preseason South Atlantic Conference women's lacrosse poll, which was released Thursday afternoon. In addition, five players have earned preseason accolades. Kathryn McCabe and Krysta Churns are preseason first team All-SAC honorees, while Bree Solero, Deirdre Jones and Sophie Pavlick have been named SAC Players to Watch.

The Bulldogs received nine of the 11 first-places votes, followed by Anderson, collecting the other two first-place votes. Lenoir-Rhyne is third, followed by Newberry, UVA Wise, LMU and Tusculum. Catawba is eighth, with Coker, Mars Hill and Emory & Henry rounding out the poll.

The Bulldogs have won three straight regular season SAC titles, while reaching the SAC title game in each of the last four years. Wingate earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2025, the second tourney bid in program history. The Bulldogs went 17-3 overall last year, with an 11-0 mark in league play. The 17 wins tied a program record for win, which the 'Dogs also won in 2023. Wingate is ranked 16th in the preseason IWLCA top 25 poll.

McCabe was named the SAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2025, while also earning IWLCA All-American accolades. McCabe piled up 51 caused turnovers last year, along with 128 draw controls and 66 ground balls. She also registered a goal and an assist. McCabe led the SAC in CTs and draw controls, ranking fourth in ground balls. She ranked in the top 20 in the nation in draw controls and caused turnovers.

Churns was a first team All-SAC selection last year. She collected 25 caused turnovers and 44 ground balls in 2025, while also handing out an assist. Churns was a key factor in Wingate leading the nation in caused turnovers, while ranking seventh nationally in scoring defense.

Jones was an all-conference honoree at Limestone in 2025. She piled up 43 goals and 17 assists on the season, adding 50 draw controls and 21 ground balls. Jones had three goals and two assists in the SAC Tourney semifinals, while pouring in four goals in the title game. She also had two goals and two assists in the NCAA Tourney opening-round victory.

Solero appeared in all 20 games for the Bulldogs last season, registering 31 points. She had 24 goals and seven assists on the season, while adding 24 casued turnovers and 27 ground balls. Solero also registered four draw controls. She had multiple points nine times on the year, including a three-goal, one-assist effort at Catawba an a two-goal, two-assist performance against Newberry. She also scored three goals against Mars Hill.

Pavlick played a huge role in Wingate's draw control in 2025. She piled up 95 draw controls on the year, ranking second in the SAC. She also notched four caused turnovers and a pair of ground balls. Pavlick scored three goals on the season. That included her two-goal effort against Coker.

Wingate opens the 2026 season at home, hosting #3 Florida Southern Sunday, Feb. 7 at 11 a.m.  
 
SAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll

Rank	School (First Place Votes)	Score
1.	Wingate (9)	119
2.	Anderson (2)	106
3.	Lenoir-Rhyne	102
4.	Newberry	99
5.	UVA Wise	83
6.	Lincoln Memorial	74
7.	Tusculum	67
8.	Catawba	58
9.	Coker	44
10.	Mars Hill	42
11.	Emory & Henry	31

Women's Lacrosse Preseason All-SAC
Attack
A – Kirra Olson, Lenoir-Rhyne
A – Ava Skeffington, Anderson
A – Josie Tinnerello, Lincoln Memorial
A – Logen Davis, UVA Wise
Midfield
MF – Megan Muir, Anderson
MF – Emma Toole, Anderson
MF – Mya Halladay, Tusculum
MF – Ellie Wilkins, Anderson
Defense
D – Kathryn McCabe, Wingate
D – Krysta Churns, Wingate
D – Meredith Dawson, Anderson
D – Taryn Moreno, UVA Wise
Goalkeeper
GK – Sally Friesen, Lenoir-Rhyne

Players to Watch
Catawba: Audrey Adelsberger, Allison Filosa, Kylie Harris, Abby Shuren, Madison Widecki
Coker: Kate Halcro, Mia MacMillan, Olivia Schmidt, Veronica Richardson, Sydnee Schrauben
Emory & Henry: Justyce Jones, Mary Martinez, Alex Costello, Megan D'Amore, Madison Weaver
Lenoir-Rhyne: Anneleise Meyer, Jessica Mikesell
Lincoln Memorial: Sage Leax, Brookelyn Walls, Ryan Smith, Jaiden Jaynes
Mars Hill: Makenna Olson, Kendall Middleton, Madison Welch, Abby Cleveland, Ashley Holland
Newberry: Ella Todd, Julia Zayachowsky, Lana Howell, Shannon Creagh
Tusculum: Jessie Carolin-Vandenberg, Sophia Didzbalis, Liberty Jones, Elisha Stack
UVA Wise: Issie Brown, Noley Hiller, Kaylea Paterson
Wingate: Bree Solero, Deirdre Jones, Sophie Pavlick