ELON, N.C. – Announced as part of Inside Lacrosse’s Face-Off Yearbook for the 2018 season, Elon University women’s lacrosse checks in ranked No. 20 in the organization’s preseason poll.
The recognition marks the first time in program history Elon will start a season with a national ranking after cracking the national rankings for the first time during the 2017 season. Elon is one of three teams among the IL Top 25 with James Madison checking in at No. 17 and Towson at No. 24. All three teams went to the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
Last week, the Phoenix announced its 2018 schedule that features 15 games with seven set to be contested at home. Among the seven games at Rudd Field, the Phoenix will welcome teams like North Carolina, James Madison, Stanford and Towson while Elon will open its campaign with road trips to three ACC programs in Duke, Virginia and Notre Dame. In all, seven of Elon’s 15 regular-season opponents this season open the campaign in IL’s Top 25 with North Carolina at No. 3, Virginia No. 13, Notre Dame No. 16, James Madison No. 17, Duke No. 21, Stanford No. 22 and Towson No. 24.
Also announced last week, Elon will play two CAA games on Lax Sports Network. Its first LSN game will be the CAA opener on Friday, April 6, at Hofstra. One week later on Friday, April 13, the Phoenix will welcome Towson for a rematch of the CAA Semifinals, where third-seeded Elon defeated second-seeded Towson in overtime to reach its first conference tournament final in program history.
Elon’s season is set to start on Feb. 11 with a trip down I-85 to Durham, N.C., to face the 21st-ranked Duke Blue Devils at 1 p.m.