Ruthie Braunstein/The Hoya Senior Sheehan Stanwick was named Big East Preseason player of the year. Coming off the most successful season in its history, Georgetown women’s lacrosse was tapped as the unanimous preseason favorite to win the Big East championship in the conference’s inaugural season for women’s lacrosse.

Georgetown made it to the national quarterfinal in last year’s NCAA tournament before losing in overtime to eventual champion Maryland, and the expectations this season are for similar success.

The Big East coaches unanimously named Georgetown as the preseason favorite while also naming senior attack Sheehan Stanwick the Big East Preseason Player of the Year.

Stanwick is Georgetown’s all-time leader in points and goals and has the three highest single-season scoring marks in school history. Her sister, Wick Stanwick, is a sophomore attack for the Hoyas.

Along with Stanwick, junior attack Erin Elbe, senior goalie Bowen Holden and senior middie Caitlin McLean were all named to the Preseason All-Big East Team, giving Georgetown the most players of any school on the 12-member team.

The Hoyas have also received national recognition, with all four of their All-Big East players also being named College Lacrosse USA All-Americans. Stanwick, Elbe and McLean were named to the First Team, tying Maryland for the most players on the 15-member squad. Holden was named to the At-Large Team.

Opening day for the Hoyas is March 1, when Towson takes on Georgetown on Kehoe Field. This season’s schedule is highlighted by games against North Carolina, Maryland, James adison and Princeton.