Central Islip, N.Y. – The women's lacrosse coaches in the East Coast Conference have selected defending National Champion, LIU Post, as the favorite to capture the conference championship in 2013. LIU Post senior Ashley Olen (East Islip, N.Y.) has been named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while teammate Dominique Mosca (Merrick, N.Y.) takes home the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honor.
The Pioneers, who tied a program record with 17 wins and won the third National Championship in program history last season, received six of eight first place votes to top the poll. LIU Post also begins the season ranked No. 1 in the nation in the IWLCA Preseason Poll.
Two-time defending ECC Champion, Dowling, grabbed the final two first place votes to come in second in the poll.. Molloy, who finished with a record of 9-8 in 2012, rounds out the top three.
Olen takes home the ECC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after an impressive return to the field in 2012. After missing all of the 2011 season with an injury, Olen scored an ECC leading and LIU Post program record 74 goals, while also adding 18 assists for 92 total points. Her outstanding season earned her numerous accolades including being named to the All-Conference and IWLCA All-America First Teams.
Mosca, the reigning ECC Goalkeeper of the Year, is the coaches' pick for the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year award. In 2012 she helped lead the Pioneers to a National Championship by starting all 20 games in front of the cage and posting a 17-3 record. Mosca led the conference in wins, saves (173), and goals against average (9.11), while ranking third in save percentage (.512). Her efforts on the season earned her a spot on the IWLCA All-America First Team and also the IWLCA's Division II C. Markland Kelly Goalie of the Year honor.
2013 East Coast Conference Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
| Team | Pts. |
| 1. LIU Post (6) | 62 |
| 2. Dowling (2) | 57 |
| 3. Molloy | 46 |
| 4. Queens | 38 |
| 5. Mercy | 33 |
| 6. St. Thomas Aquinas | 24 |
| 7. Bridgeport | 18 |
| 8. Roberts Wesleyan | 10 |
( ) - first place votes
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Ashley Olen, Sr., A, LIU Post
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Dominique Mosca, Sr., GK, LIU Post
