Pirates Picked Fourth, Knight Tabbed Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year

IRVING, Texas – The East Carolina lacrosse team has been projected to finish fourth in the American Athletic Conference by the leagues' coaches, the conference announced Tuesday. Individually, Brynn Knight was tabbed Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year and Knight and Frances Kimel received Preseason All-Conference recognition.

Knight, a junior out of Manchester, Md., was named as the goalkeeper to watch as she returns from a stellar 2023 season. Knight faced 452 shots a season ago while allowing just 9.60 goals per game and putting together an impressive .492 save percentage – both program records. Knight also notched the program record in goalkeeper wins with 10 last season.

Kimel finds herself on the Preseason All-Conference time for the second year in a row and this time does so as a unanimous selection. Kimel does so following an AAC All-Conference First Team and IWLCA All-Region campaign in 2023. Along with Alexandra Giacolone, Kimel was the first Pirate ever to earn All-Region honors. The graduate student earned those honors well, putting up program records with 71 points and 42 goals in the season while narrowly missing her own program record with 29 assists (the record is 32).

Picked fourth in the league – tied with Cincinnati – the Pirates have their highest preseason ranking in program history after being picked fifth in the American the last three season. The team will look to build upon a 10-8 (3-3 AAC) campaign in 2023 which saw the Pirates earn the three-seed in the AAC Tournament where the fell to eventual champion Florida in a close battle, 12-9.

The Pirates open their season on Feb. 10 in Johnson Stadium as they take on the Queens Royals.

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

Pirates Picked Fourth, Knight Tabbed Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year

Players Mentioned

Alexandra Giacolone

Frances Kimel

Brynn Knight

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