The Fairfield University women’s lacrosse team has been selected to finish the season in third place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Lacrosse League preseason poll of the league’s seven head coaches.  In addition, defenders Mary Vallely (Ayer, Mass.) and Katie von Hoffmann (Montclair, N.J) were named to the preseason All-MAAC team.

The Stags received 35 votes in the poll, which predicts Marist College as the league favorite with 43 points.  Canisius College was tabbed second, one point ahead of the Stags.  Iona College earned 25 points, to be picked fourth, followed by Manhattan College and Siena College at 24 points and Niagara University with nine points.

 Vallely was named the 2007 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year after finishing the season 10th in the country in caused turnovers, with 37.  She added 52 ground bals and 24 draw controls.  On the offensive end she netted 11 goals and dished out three assists.

Von Hoffmann has been named to the All-MAAC Second Team in each of the last two seasons, starting 32 of the Stags 34 games in that time.  She has picked up 86 career ground balls in her career, including a career-high 39 as a sophomore.   Last season she netted seven goals, with one assists, as well as causing 14 ground balls.

The Stags open the season with three straight road games, the first two without leaving the Stags.  Fairfield’s opener is at Yale on Feb. 27 and they travel to Sacred Heart on Feb. 29.  The home opener is March 12 when Boston College comes to town.