WATERVILLE, Maine --- The Colby College women’s lacrosse team is ranked 11th in a preseason national poll by Lacrosse Magazine.

The Mules, who finished eighth in the final Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) poll last spring, have been to the NCAA Division III Tournament quarterfinal round the past two years. Colby has been in the New England Small College Athletic Conference title game in each of the past five years, winning championships in 2008 and 2009.

The Mules are one of eight NESCAC teams to make the preseason national poll. Despite the fine ranking of 11, the Mules are sixth among the league schools selected.

Hamilton, which is now in the NESCAC for all sports, is ranked fourth. Trinity, which beat the Mules in the conference final a year ago, is seven and is followed by Middlebury (8), Bowdoin (9), Tufts (10), the Mules (11), Amherst (13), and Bates (18).

The Mules, under head coach Karen MacCrate Henning, have a number of key players returning in 2012. Junior All-American Kate Pistel is one of the top players in the country. Sophomore attacker Lindsey McKenna was on the IWLCA All-Region Team and was the NESCAC Rookie of the Year. Senior tri-captains Ally Baker, Claire Donegan, and Lane McVey also are important players returning and will provide leadership.

Lacrosse Magazine National Poll
NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse
Team                                  2011 record
1. Gettysburg                   19-4
2. College of New Jersey    20-1
3. Cortland                       21-2
4. Hamilton                      18-2
5. Franklin and Marshall 19-3
6. Salisbury                            19-3
7. Trinity                             18-1
8. Middlebury                    11-6
9. Bowdoin                        18-4
10. Tufts                               12-7
11. COLBY                           15-5
12. Messiah                               18-2
13. Amherst                          9-6
14. Washington and Lee   15-5
15. Stevens                                 16-4
16. Catholic                           15-4
17. Bates                                9-7
18. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 16-3
19. Adrian                               16-5
20. Ithaca                                11-7