GRAND LAKE, Colo. (Jan. 30, 2017) - The LIU Post women's lacrosse team will start the 2017 season at No. 4 in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association Division II Preseason Poll, released Monday.

It is the second-straight year that the Pioneers placed fourth in the IWLCA preseason tally. Over the past eight seasons, the green and gold have opened up no lower than No. 6 in the rankings.

The Pioneers, who amassed 335 points in the voting, return three of their Top-4 leading point-getters from last season, all of whom were named to the All-ECC second-team roster.

Senior attacker Connor Bird (Syosset, N.Y.) finished as the league's sixth-best scorer in 2016, amassing 41 goals and 19 assists for 60 points. She also scooped up 59 draw controls in the process.

Senior attacker Stefani Vagelatos (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) tallied the third-most points on the team last year with 55 (37 G, 18 A), while sophomore midfielder Ryan McKinney (Downingtown, Pa.) ranked fifth amongst all freshmen in the conference with 48 points (39 G, 9 A).

Head Coach Meghan McNamara and her LIU Post squad kick off the 2017 campaign on Saturday, Feb. 25, when they host No. 20 Pace University in a non-conference tilt at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium in Brookville, N.Y. The opening draw is scheduled for noon.

2017 IWLCA Division II Preseason Poll
1. Florida Southern (17 First-Place Votes) - 397 Points
2. Adelphi (Three First-Place Votes) - 382 Points
3. Le Moyne - 340 Points
4. LIU Post - 335 Points
5. Lindenwood - 331 Points
6. Rollins - 296 Points
7. West Chester - 251 Points
8. Grand Valley St. - 234 Points
9. Queens (N.C.) - 231 Points
10. Mercyhurst - 215 Points
11. New Haven - 187 Points
12. Bentley - 154 Points
13. Limestone - 148 Points
14. Indiana (Pa.) - 145 Points
15. NYIT - 124 Points
16. Lock Haven - 107 Points
17. Regis (Colo.) - 99 Points
18. Stonehill - 78 Points
19. East Stroudsburg - 35 Points
20. Pace - 23 Points

Also Receiving Votes: Southern New Hampshire