Benedictine tops KCAC women’s lacrosse preseason poll

KCAC Communications

WICHITA – The Benedictine College women’s lacrosse team was selected as the No. 1 team in the KCAC Women’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Poll, the conference office announced Friday. The Ravens went 13-2 overall last season, which included a perfect 7-0 finish in the KCAC as they earned the outright women’s lacrosse regular season.

Benedictine returns 2018 All-KCAC first team selection, Emily Ruhland. In her sophomore season with the Ravens, Ruhland led the team and the KCAC in assists per game (1.87) and total assists (28). The St. Michael, Minn. native ranked 11th nationally in assists per game, 13th in total assists, and 35th in points per game (3.670). As a team, Benedictine was second in the NAIA in shots per game (38.730), third in goals per game (18.930), fourth in assists per game (9.130) and total assists (137).

Ottawa University was selected as the No. 2 team in the KCAC following a 7-8 overall and 4-3 conference record last season, en route to a KCAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship appearance, before falling, 1-16 to Benedictine. As a team, the Braves ranked 14th in the NAIA last season in total shots (417) and total shots on goal (298), 15th in shots per game (27.800), 17th in shots on goal per game (19.870), 18th in total goals (139), and 19th in total assists (36).