Pirates Tabbed Third, Collect American Conference Lacrosse Preseason Accolades
February 03, 2026 | Lacrosse
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In the team poll, the Pirates garnered 27 votes, just behind South Florida's 29 as James Madison was named the preseason favorite to once more win the league. It was not a unanimous vote, however, as the Dukes garnered six of the seven first-place votes while for the first time in program history, ECU earned the remaining vote.
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It is perhaps not a surprise as the Pirates return the core of a team which went 4-2 in league play a year ago before narrowly falling to South Florida in the American Semifinals. That 4-2 clip was a program record for a rejuvenated program in its second season under head coach Brittany Dipper.
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Individually, Rachel Chessock and Emma Magazu joined Behar and Wilkes on the Preseason All-Conference team. Magazu was a unanimous selection, as was Wilkes.
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That duo of Wilkes and Magazu made history last season, becoming the first players in program history to earn American Conference Player of the Year accolades, being named Midfielder of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively.
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Wilkes, a senior by way of Sinking Spring, Pa., put up career best numbers last season with 49 points on 38 goals and 11 assists to go with 60 draw controls, 31 ground balls and 17 caused turnovers. Â She led the team in goals and draw controls.
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Magazu, a graduate student from Newtown, Conn., finished 2025 with 43 ground balls and 30 caused turnovers, both team highs. Her 30 caused turnovers were the most in program history and her 43 ground balls were the second most all time.
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For Behar, a senior out of Mineola, N.Y., it was a career year as well in 2025 with 163 saves made on a .424 save percentage while earning the decision in all seven victories. The goalie ranked 22nd in the NCAA and first in the conference in saves on the year. She was twice named American Conference Goalkeeper of the Week before earning All-Conference Second-Team honors.
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Chessock, a senior from Winston-Salem, put up 39 points on 31 goals last season while contributing 34 draw controls and eight ground balls. Chessock, along with Magazu. Wilkes and Bella Askey, was named a team captain for 2026.
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The Pirates open the 2026 season on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Johnson Stadium as they host Queens.
2026 American Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
1. James Madison, 36 (6)
2. South Florida, 29
3. East Carolina, 27 (1)
4. Vanderbilt, 22
5. Temple, 16
6. Charlotte, 11
7. Old Dominion, 6
First-place votes in parenthesis
Preseason Attack Player of the Year
Olivia Matthews, James Madison
Sofia Chepenik, South Florida
Preseason Midfielder of the Year
Kayla Wilkes, East Carolina
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Reese Cuvillo, James Madison
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Jaime Behar, East Carolina
Preseason All-Conference Team
Isa Torres, A, Charlotte*
Jaime Behar, G, East Carolina
Rachel Chessock, A, East Carolina
Emma Magazu, D, East Carolina*
Kayla Wilkes, M, East Carolina*
Ava Bleckley, D, James Madison*
Reese Cuviello, D, James Madison
Olivia Matthews, A, James Madison*
Payton Root, A, James Madison
Brynn Bowen, G, Old Dominion
Sofia Chepenik, A, South Florida*
Kali Cleary, M, South Florida
Kaitlyn Tartaglione, M, South Florida*
Kat Bielinski, D, Temple
Sabrina Martin, M, Temple*
Amelia Wright, A, Temple
Brooke Baker, M, Vanderbilt*
Alex Gladding, D, Vanderbilt*
Nancy Halleron, A, Vanderbilt*
* denotes unanimous selection
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