BALTIMORE - For a third straight year the Salisbury University women's lacrosse program was selected No. 3 by Lacrosse magazine in its annual preseason rankings. The Sea Gulls find themselves behind defending national champion Hamilton College and No. 2 Franklin & Marshall College in the 2009 Division III preseason poll released in the January issue of Lacrosse.

Salisbury reached the national semifinals for a fourth time in five seasons in '08 as the maroon and gold posted a program best 22-1 record. The Sea Gulls lost an 11-10 heartbreaker to Hamilton in the semifinals.

There are six preseason top 20 teams on Salisbury's 2009 schedule. The Sea Gulls will face four of the top six teams this season including top-ranked Hamilton and No. 2 F&M. Salisbury will travel to San Antonio to square off with the No. 1 Continentals on March 18 during Spring Break. The Sea Gulls will host No. 6 Colby on March 24 before traveling to Lancaster, Pa., to take on the second-ranked Diplomats on March 29.

In April, the first two home games for the maroon and gold feature nationally ranked teams. SU will host Capital Athletic Conference rival and No. 15 St. Mary's (Md.) College on April 4 followed a week later by a visit by No. 5 The College of New Jersey on April 11. Salisbury's other game this season against a preseason ranked team is March 8 on the road against No. 17 Catholic University of America.

Salisbury will open its season on Wednesday, February 18, as the Sea Gulls host Christopher Newport University at 3:00 p.m. in Sea Gull Stadium.

2008-12-23