Maggi Hall and Danielle Pavinelli also earn AAC Preseason All-Conference
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida lacrosse team was picked to finish second in the 2024 American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll which was announced by the league Tuesday.
The Gators totaled 33 points and three first place votes, just one point and first place vote behind counterpart James Madison. Temple was picked to finish third in the conference, followed by Cincinnati, East Carolina, Vanderbilt and Old Dominion.
In addition to the predicted second place finish, UF had three players selected to the AAC Preseason All-Conference Team, bringing home one major award.
Maggi Hall, Emily Heller and Danielle Pavinelli all earned a spot on the AAC Preseason All-Conference Team via unanimous selection. Heller was named Preseason Midfielder of the Year following up on her 2023 AAC Midfielder of the Year accolade. Florida’s three players are tied for the second-most out of all the conference teams.
These three are no strangers to recognition for their play, as they were all named First Team All-AAC just a year ago. Hall, a native of Bel Air, Md., had 47 goals on an efficient .618 shooting percentage (tied for seventh in the country). Hall thrived at getting her teammates involved, leading the team and conference in assists with 36. She ranks fifth all-time in assists with 73, and tied for third all-time in assists per game at 1.16.
Heller and Pavinelli were both named USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-American Honorable Mention earlier this month. Both 2024 captains have had decorative careers here at Florida. Heller has been versatile, scoring 39 goals a year ago, to go along with 46 draw controls and 40 ground balls. She is just 11 goals shy of 100 career goals and 23 draw controls away from 200 in her career.
Pavinelli, who was the 2023 Preseason AAC Attacker of the Year scored 47 goals and assisted on 21 others last season. Her 73 goals in 2022 is good for sixth all-time in a season and her 204 career points puts her at 10th all-time.
Florida is coming off a 17-4 season where they went 5-1 in conference play, defeating James Madison in the AAC Conference Championship 9-8. The Gators have won nine straight conference tournament championships with a 220-57 (.794) program record – all under head coach Amanda O’Leary.
After being ranked No. 10 in the IWLCA Preseason Poll just a day ago, UF gets the 2024 season started on Feb. 10 at No. 9 Loyola at 12 p.m.
2024 American Athletic Conference Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1.
James Madison (4)
34
2.
Florida (3)
33
3.
Temple
23
4.
Cincinnati
18
East Carolina
18
6.
Vanderbilt
15
7.
Old Dominion
6
first-place votes in parentheses
2024 American Athletic Conference Preseason Attack Player of the Year
Isabella Peterson, James Madison *
2024 American Athletic Conference Preseason Midfielder of the Year
Emily Heller, Florida
2024 American Athletic Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Katie Shallow, Temple
2024 American Athletic Conference Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Brynn Knight, East Carolina
2024 American Athletic Conference Women’s Lacrosse Preseason All-Conference Team
Camryn Callaghan, A, Cincinnati *
Ava Goeller, M, Cincinnati
Dani Mlkvy, D, Cincinnati *
Caroline Kimel, A, East Carolina *
Brynn Knight, G, East Carolina
Maggi Hall, A, Florida *
Emily Heller, M, Florida *
Danielle Pavinelli, A, Florida *
Maddie Epke, A, James Madison *
Taylor Marchetti, M, James Madison
Katelyn Morgan, A, James Madison
Isabella Peterson, A, James Madison *
Katie McGrain, D, Old Dominion
Belle Mastropietro, M Temple *
Mackenzie Roth, A, Temple
Katie Shallow, D, Temple *
* unanimous selection
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