ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Tusculum University women's lacrosse team is picked to finish ninth in the South Atlantic Conference preseason coaches poll, released Wednesday.

Graduate midfielder Juliette Cusano was named second-team preseason All-SAC for the second straight year in voting by the conference's media relations directors.

The Pioneers went 3-3 overall and 1-0 in conference play before the 2020 season was halted. Ten starters return for the Pioneers in 2021, including the top five goal scorers from a year ago.

Cusano led the Pioneers with 24 goals, 25 points, 10 free-position goals, 28 draw controls and 13 caused turnovers last season, and was second on team with 14 ground balls. The Davie, Florida native ranked fourth in SAC in goals, 13th in points, ninth in shots (42), third in free-position goals, fourth in draw controls and fourth in caused turnovers.

Cusano, who chose to utilize her extra season of eligibility following the early end to the 2020 season, has scored 138 career goals which is one shy of tying the program career record. She ranks third in program history in points (157), ninth in assists (19), fourth in ground balls (92), second in draw controls (193) and second in caused turnovers (55). Cusano brings a streak of 39 consecutive games with at least one goal into the 2021 season.

Perennial SAC power Queens earned nine first-place votes and 109 points in the poll, with conference newcomer Limestone taking the other two first-place votes and 94 points. Lenoir-Rhyne is third with 92 points, followed by Wingate (89 points) in fourth, Lincoln Memorial (63) in fifth and UVA Wise (60) in sixth.

Catawba (56 points) is seventh, followed by Mars Hill (52) in eighth, the Pioneers (42) in ninth, Coker (34) in tenth and Newberry (24) in 11th.

Tusculum hosts Southern Wesleyan in its season opener on Saturday, Feb. 20, and will begin conference play on Saturday, Feb. 27 at Mars Hill.

2021 SAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll

2021 SAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason All-Conference Teams

All-SAC First Team

A – Rachel Perrett, Queens 
A – Kendall Wells, Wingate
A – Ally Blood, Queens 
A – Kara Blanchard, Queens 
MF – Sydney Bracken, Queens
MF – Caroline Earnshaw, UVA Wise
MF – Julia Foster, Limestone
MF – Chloe Wood, Newberry
D – Sydney Hussey, Queens 
D – Cassie Lafler, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Alexandria Allen, Limestone
D – Sierra Street, Wingate
GK – Teanna Sieben, Lenoir-Rhyne

All-SAC Second Team

A – Cathleen Gaffney, Lenoir-Rhyne
A – Erin DePaul, Lincoln Memorial
A – Alyssa Sack, Lenoir-Rhyne
A – Jesse French, UVA Wise
MF – Becca Ruiz, Wingate
MF – Juliette Cusano, Tusculum
MF – Kelly Csenar, Lincoln Memorial
MF – Kyleigh Masteran, Queens
D – Charlotte Hess, UVA Wise
D – Caroline Falcone, Catawba
D – Jillian Mitrecic, Queens
D – Madalyn Messersmith, Newberry
GK – Megan Biase, Wingate