CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Seniors Kelly Larkin (Alexandria, Va.) and Annalise Heyward (Charlotte, N.C.) claimed top accolades as the Patriot League officially announced its preseason All-Conference selections. Larkin was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Heyward was tabbed Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. In addition to Larkin and Heyward, senior Kayla Harris (Annapolis, Md.) was also selected to the preseason team. As a team, Navy was picked second in the 2020 Patriot League Preseason Poll in a vote cast by the league's coaches and sports information directors.
 
The 2020 Preseason All-Patriot League Team was unveiled and the 16-woman team is made up of seven seniors, seven juniors, and two sophomores. Seven of the 10 teams placed players on the preseason team, including Loyola and Army West Point who have a league-best four selections each. Navy has three representatives, while Boston U. has two. American, Colgate, and Lehigh round out the team with one selection each.
 
Navy claimed the two top awards as Larkin and Heyward were tabbed Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.
 
In addition, the Patriot League announced its preseason poll. Loyola secured 16 of the 20 first-place votes (eligible for only 18 due to not being able to vote for your own team) and amassed 160 points to top the poll. Navy accounted for the remaining four first-place votes and totaled 148 points to finish second in the balloting. Boston University was third with 122 points, followed by Army West Point (104), Lehigh (91), Colgate (85), Holy Cross (56), American (46), Bucknell (36) and Lafayette (36).
 
Larkin, who became the first player in Navy and Patriot League history to record three 100-point seasons, finished the 2019 season with 121 points on 69 goals and 52 assists. The Tewaaraton Award nominee broke the Navy and Patriot League record for career points, passing Navy's Jasmine DePompeo (2010-13) who held the record with 336 career points. Last season, the All-American scored at least one goal in all 21 games with multiple goals in 19 games (19 straight to end the season) with 14 hat tricks. In her career, Larkin is a three-time All-Patriot League (two-time first team) selection and the reigning Patriot League Attacker of the Year.
 
Heyward was named Second Team All-Patriot League last season. The midfielder tallied 50 points on 34 goals and 16 assists, while winning 83 draw controls, picking up 44 ground balls, and causing 29 turnovers. She scored goals in 15 games, including multiple scores in 11 contests with hat tricks in six games. Heyward won at least one draw control in all 21 games with multiple draws in 16 games. She picked up at least one ground ball in 20 games with multiple GB in 12 contests. The Charlotte, N.C. native caused turnovers in 14 games with nine multi-CT games.
 
Harris was a First Team All-Patriot League honoree in 2019. She scored 51 points on 37 goals with 14 assists, while winning 68 draw controls, picking up 26 ground balls, and causing six turnovers. Harris registered goals in 15 games (of 21 played) with multiple scores in 10 contests, including hat tricks in eight games. Harris won at least one draw control in 20 of 21 games, including multiple draws in 17 contests.
 
Navy opens the 2020 season on Saturday, Feb. 8 vs. Virginia.
 
 
2020 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
1. Loyola, 160 points (16 first-place votes)
2. Navy, 148 points (4 first-place votes)
3. Boston University, 122 points
4. Army West Point, 104 points
5. Lehigh 91 points
6. Colgate, 85 points
7. Holy Cross, 56 points
8. American, 46 points
T9. Bucknell, 36 points
T9. Lafayette, 36 points
 
 
2020 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Major Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Kelly Larkin, Navy, Sr., Attack
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Annalise Heyward, Navy, Sr., Midfielder
 
 
2020 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Preseason All-League Team
Emma Vinall, American, Jr., Attack
Jackie Brattan, Army West Point, Jr., Attack
Caroline Raymond, Army West Point, So., Attack
Samantha Stewart, Army West Point, Sr., Midfielder
Maddie Burns, Army West Point, Sr. Goalkeeper
Kailey Conry, Boston University, Sr., Attack
Emily Vervlied, Boston University, Jr., Midfielder
Danielle Van Calcar, Colgate, Jr., Midfielder
Sondra Dickey, Lehigh, Sr., Midfielder
Livy Rosenzweig, Loyola, Jr., Attack
Sam Fielder, Loyola, Jr., Midfielder
Elli Kluegel, Loyola, Jr., Midfielder
Katie Detwiler, Loyola, So., Defender
Kelly Larkin, Navy, Sr., Attack
Kayla Harris, Navy, Sr., Midfielder
Annalise Heyward, Navy, Sr., Midfielder