HARTSVILLE, S.C.- The Coker women's lacrosse team was picked fourth in the South Atlantic Conference preseason poll, the league announced today. Under the direction of second-year Head Coach Kate Keagins, the Cobras will begin action at home against Embry-Riddle (FL) on Feb. 16 as part of a three-game home stand.
The Cobras finished the 2017 season with an 14-5 record, earning the No. 3 seed in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament before ending their season in the semifinals.
Coach Keagins expressed, "Preseason is going well so far. Our girls came back ready to go and allowed us to pick up right where we left off in the fall".
Two Cobras were selected to the All-SAC preseason first team: Faith Kent and Haley McCusker.
Kent played and started in all 19 games for Coker as a sophomore. She broke her previous scoring record with 54 goals on the season and also set a Coker single-season record with 54 assists. She also shattered the single-season points record with 104, while tallying her 100th point of the season against Tusculum on Apr. 25. She picked up 29 ground balls, won 42 draw controls, and caused 14 turnovers on the year. Kent also took home the 2017 South Atlantic Conference statistical championship in points per game, averaging a league-high 5.38. She was named the Astroturf South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Week once. In addition, Kent was named South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year and was also an All-SAC first team selection.
McCusker had a stellar junior season for the Cobras, playing and starting in all 19 games. She scored a Coker single-season record 79 goals and added eight assists, to bring her to a total of 87 points, which is second on the single-season points list at Coker. She also collected 38 ground balls, won 13 draw controls, and caused 23 turnovers. Along with being named Astroturf South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Week once, McCusker was named to the All-SAC second team, and won the C. G. Timberlake Female Athlete of the Year award at Coker's 2017 FANG Awards.
Keagins spoke highly of her eight newcomers and the roles that they will play alongside the seven returners. "Our freshmen are really stepping up to the challenge. They understand that they will be needed to make impacts on the field this season and are putting in the extra work outside of practice to be fully prepared." Keagins went on to say, "Collectively, they have all used their fall practice time to learn how their teammates play and are all on the same page".
The Cobras compete in 15 games during their 2018 season. They open their campaign with six non-conference games, with five of those being in Hartsville. SAC games begin at the end of March, starting with two away and two at home. Out of the five contests in April, four are against conference opponents. The regular season ends April 21 with a home match against Lincoln Memorial for Senior Day.
"We are very excited for the season, especially for conference play," said Coach Keagins. "Last year we made an impact in the SAC and really turned some heads and our goal as a team is to continue where we left off last spring. As a team, we feel that we have the tools to do great things and we just need to utilize them in order to continue the momentum of the program."
The Cobras open their 2018 season on February 16 at home against Embry-Riddle (FL). Opening draw is set for 7:00 p.m.
To view the full South Atlantic Conference preseason release, click here.