A year after it finished the most successful season in school history and brought in a lacrosse legend as its new coach, Syracuse women’s lacrosse was selected as the preseason favorite to win the Big East conference, in the first coaches poll released yesterday.

Coming off a tie for the conference championship and with first-year head coach Gary Gait at the helm, the squad received first-place votes from the head coaches of all five of Syracuse’s Big East foes. Notre Dame was tabbed in second place and Georgetown in third.

SU attack Katie Rowan was named conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. The junior set school records last season in goals (59) and points (86). She is joined on the preseason all-conference squad by teammates Halley Quillinan, a sophomore attack, and senior midfielder Bridget Looney.

The team finished with a school-record 13 wins last year, with six losses, and was 4-1 in the Big East. SU finished the season with a loss in the second round of the NCAA tournament to Vanderbilt, 14-9.

The Orange kicks off the 2008 season on Feb. 20 with a 7 p.m. game against Canisius in the Carrier Dome.