University of North Carolina Athletics
Women's Lacrosse Ranked No. 6 in Preseason Poll
January 23, 2002 | Women's Lacrosse
Jan. 23, 2002
Chapel Hill, N.C. - The University of North Carolina women's lacrosse team was ranked No. 6 in the Lacrosse Magazine 2002 preseason rankings, the publication announced this week. Tar Heel seniors Christine McPike and Kellie Thompson were each named preseason All-Americas by the magazine.
Defending national champion Maryland was the top-ranked team, followed by No. 2 Duke, No. 3 Princeton, No. 4 Georgetown, No. 5 Loyola and No. 6 Carolina. Virginia was ranked No. 7.
The Tar Heels went 11-7 overall last season, reaching the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals and finishing the season ranked No. 6 in the final IWLCA poll of the year. Carolina has made five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and five straight Top-10 national finishes.
McPike was a first-team All-America and an All-ACC selection last season. A fixture in the Tar Heel midfield for the last four seasons, McPike is a talented defensive player, ball-handler and scorer. McPike recorded career highs last year with 36 goals and 44 points. She is one of Carolina's team captains this season, along with Thompson and fellow senior Lindsay Stone.
One of the top scorers in the nation, Thompson was a second-team All-America and an All-ACC selection last season. She also was a finalist for the 2001 Tewaaraton Trophy, given annually to the National Player of the Year. Thompson set career highs last year with 51 goals (a school record) and 64 points. She is one of Carolina's team captains this season, along with McPike and fellow senior Lindsay Stone.
Carolina opens the 2002 season on Feb. 24 against Davidson in Chapel Hill.
