Lady Flames Lacrosse selected to finish fourth in the GSC preseason poll
BIRMINGHAM, Ala – With the 2025 season just around the corner, the Lee University women’s lacrosse team was picked to finish fourth in the Gulf South Conference preseason coaches poll as announced by the league on Monday. Defending champion Flagler College was picked to repeat, earning four of the five first place votes.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville earned one first place vote and was second in the poll. Lander was picked third and the University of Montevallo was picked fifth.
Lee is coming off a 9-9 campaign in 2024 that ended in the GSC semifinals. The Lady Flames will have a big task in replacing some key players in 2025. On the attack, Brittney White finished her career as the active career leader in draw controls across all NCAA divisions with 598. She is also the all-time leader in goals for Lee with 214. Last year’s leading scorer Maggie Luzier also graduated.
Lee will also have to replace both goalkeepers from last season. Kaleigh Bernard and Caleigh Smith are the top two all time in school history in saves. Bernard ended her career with 382 saves while Smith had 206.
However, there are a few key players returning. Hannah Vecsey had the second most assists in the GSC last year with 30. She was also ninth in points per game last season in the GSC. She had 30 goals as well on 56 shots. She had 12 ground balls and three caused turnovers. Also back in the attack is Makenna Luzier who had 17 goals and 15 assists last year on just 39 shots. She had two game winning goals and 21 ground balls.
Hannah Vecsey had the second most assists in the GSC last year with 30. (Photo/Lee Flames)
In the midfield, Noelle Harrington returns for Lee. She had 18 goals and seven assists last year. She also had 23 ground balls and six caused turnovers. Kamille Kremkau also returns after scoring 12 goals and securing 20 draw controls last year.
Head Coach Megan Smith brought in a big freshmen class with 11 new players and also added two transfers to the team.
Despite all the new players, Coach Smith is always looking to keep improving.
“I expect us to be strong on finishing on attack and keeping composure and making solid contact on defense,” she explained. “But we are always working to improve the little things! Working as a full unit to make things happen on both ends of the ball and communication will be key,” she stressed.
The schedule this season will be a challenge for Lee as Coach Smith noted.
“We have a really tough schedule this year. We play the reigning national champions the University of Tampa and six other teams in the top 20. With the NCAA passing Automatic Qualifiers for every conference and the expansion of the brackets, we want to put ourselves in a spot to be competitive and be challenged while getting better all season. Our schedule will do that for us and we have been working hard to prepare.”
Besides Tampa, Lee will take on Maryville University. Florida Southern College, and Flagler who all made the NCAA Championships last season. This season the Lady Flames will have eight home games and eight road games.
After being named the full-time head coach in June, Coach Smith brought in Dani O'Meara in July to be the assistant coach.
Lee will open the season on the road on February 7 at UVA-Wise.
2025 GSC Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Preseason Poll
1. Flagler (4) — 16 points
2. UAH (1) — 12 points
3. Lander — 10 points
4. Lee — 8 points
5. Montevallo — 4 points
First-place votes in parenthesis
2025 GSC Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Team
Maya Bronson, ATT, UAH
Sarah Cole, MID, UAH*
Sydney Schiavone, DEF, UAH^
Carly LaFerriere, MID, Flagler*
Sydney Onega, ATT, Flagler^
Greta McGinnis, SP, Flagler
Lauren Ribadeneira, GK, Flagler*
Jenn Seebach, DEF, Flagler*
Carley Tepel, ATT, Flagler*
Katelyn Trainor, DEF, Flagler*
Mickey Burnett, ATT, Lander
Ella Benson, MID, Lander
Autumn Huskey, DEF, Lander*
* 2024 First Team All-GSC
^ 2024 Second Team All-GSC
Players listed in alphabetical order by school
