LOCK HAVEN, PA – West Chester University was picked to win the Eastern Division of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) it was announced on Thursday afternoon. The preseason poll is voted on by the conference's head coaches.
West Chester, the three-time defending conference champions, received six of the seven first place votes en route to the top spot in the preseason poll. East Stroudsburg, picked second, was the one other first-place tally in the group. Kutztown was picked third, followed by Millersville, Shippensburg, Bloomsburg and Shepherd, respectively.
Slippery Rock, PSAC runner-up last year to West Chester, was picked to win the Western Division with five of the six first-place votes. Perennial power, Seton Hill, received the other first-place vote and was slated second in the West. Lock Haven was picked third, IUP fourth, Gannon fifth and Edinboro sixth, respectively.
The two preseason divisional favorites will kick off the 2026 campaign together at Vonnie Gros Field in West Chester on Saturday, Feb. 21. West Chester finished 19-1 a year ago and reached the Atlantic Region Final for the sixth consecutive year. The Golden Rams return 15 letterwinners from last year's team that won the PSAC for the third straight season.
Four of the team's top five goal scorers are back, along with two of the top three players who led the squad in draw controls. They will blend nicely with some newcomers who look to keep West Chester in contention for another conference crown.
2026 PSAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Polls (# of first-place votes in parentheses)
| PL. |
SCHOOL |
|
EASTERN DIVISION |
| 1. |
West Chester (6) |
| 2. |
East Stroudsburg (1) |
| 3. |
Kutztown |
| 4. |
Millersville |
| 5. |
Shippensburg |
| 6. |
Bloomsburg |
| 7. |
Shepherd |
|
|
|
WESTERN DIVISION |
| 1. |
Slippery Rock (5) |
| 2. |
Seton Hill (1) |
| 3. |
Lock Haven |
| 4. |
IUP |
| 5. |
Gannon |
| 6. |
Edinboro |
