PITMAN, N.J. – The TCNJ women's lacrosse team will open another season as the favorite in the NJAC.
 
The Lions were picked atop the NJAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, released Friday morning by the league office, on the strength of four first-place votes. Rowan – which received the other two first-place ballots – was second, followed by Stockton, Montclair State, Kean, and Ramapo.
 
TCNJ has its sights set on a 15^th consecutive conference crown behind a quartet of returning all-region standouts in attackers CJ Kole and Marissa Lucca as well as midfielders Veronica Campbell and Meghan Hogan.
 
Lucca landed her second straight All-Boardwalk Region award after a remarkable campaign in which she led the NJAC with 47 assists and matched all-time leading scorer Ally Tobler '25 for third in school history with 112 points. A second-team USA Lacrosse All-American, Lucca has nearly 200 points in her two seasons with the Lions.
 
Kole paired 50 goals with 30 assists – both third on the team – on her way to first-team All-NJAC recognition. She was also a critical part of the draw operation, producing 63 draw controls, and netted the most free-position goals on the team with 15.
 
Campbell was an All-NJAC first team honoree and collected her first career all-region accolade after leading the team in ground balls (50) while ranking second in draw controls (71) and caused turnovers (27). She was fifth on the squad in both goals (34) and points (43).
 
Hogan was a first team All-NJAC selection following a tremendous season in the midfield. She posted 24 ground balls and 17 caused turnovers while starting all 19 games.
 
Ashly Herlihy (27 GB, 27 CT), Kate Martinek (25 GB, 15 CT), and Emily Potenza (27 GB, 19 CT) all started every game on the defensive unit. Midfielder Sydney Sieja has started all but two games over the last two seasons.
 
Fifth-year goalie Hailey Wexler finally gets her turn to start between the pipes after waiting four years behind All-American Julia Charest. Wexler has been effective in her backup stints, racking up 81 saves, a .570 save percentage, and a 4.66 goals-against average in 30 games (2 starts).
 
The Lions, ranked No. 16 in the IWLCA Division III preseason poll, open the 2026 season at home next Saturday against Catholic. They finished 14-5 a year ago, defeating Rowan in the NJAC championship game before falling to Stevens in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.