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Syracuse women’s lacrosse players Emma Ward, Olivia Adamson, Kaci Benoit and Emma Muchnick were named to the Preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference Team, the conference announced Tuesday.

Ward, a graduate student, was named on the attack alongside Boston College’s Rachel Clark and Emma LoPinto. Her 81 points in 2024 ranked third on the team while her 37 assists led the squad.

In the midfield, Muchnick enters her junior with an all-conference honor. She joins Virginia’s Kate Galica and North Carolina’s Kaleigh Harden, putting her in a position to be a top midfielder in the ACC. With Natalie Smith graduated, Muchnick moves into a bigger role and looks to build off her 27 points in 2024.

Benoit is one of two underclassmen named a Preseason All-ACC defender. The sophomore is one of two starters returning on the Orange’s defensive unit alongside junior Coco Vandiver.

For at-large selections, SU attack Olivia Adamson was one of five selections. Across three seasons, she’s totaled 174 points and 119 goals. Adamson posted career highs in goals (58) and points (83) in 2024.

Additionally, the Orange were voted to finish fourth in the Coaches Poll, receiving just one vote for first place. SU finished behind Boston College, North Carolina and Virginia in the preseason poll.

Published on February 4, 2025 at 5:46 pm

Contact Aiden at: amstepan@syr.edu | @AidenStepansky