BETHLEHEM, Pa. – In a vote cast by the league's coaches and sports information directors, Navy women's lacrosse student-athletes Leelee Denton, Emily Messinese, and Ava Yovino were named Preseason All-Patriot League, it was announced by the conference office Wednesday morning. Additionally, Navy was picked to finish third in the 2024 Patriot League Preseason Poll.
 
The 2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Team was unveiled and the 16-woman team is made up of one graduate student, seven seniors, six juniors, and two sophomores.
 
Seven of the League's 10 teams placed players on the preseason team. Loyola had a league-best five selections each, while Navy and Lehigh were second with three representatives. Army placed two on the list with American, Bucknell, and Holy Cross rounding out the team with one selection each.
 
All 16 preseason honorees were selected to one of the two 2023 All-Patriot League teams, including 12 first-team selections and three major award winners. Yovino, Messinese, and Denton all made the 2023 All-Patriot League First Team.
 
Additionally, the Patriot League announced its preseason poll. Loyola secured 18 of the 20 first-place votes (eligible for only 18 due to not being able to vote for your own team) and amassed 162 points to top the poll, while Army was second with 140 points and the two remaining first-place votes. Navy (132) and Lehigh (118) placed third and fourth, respectively, in the preseason poll after advancing to the League semifinals in 2023. Boston University (92) and Holy Cross (74) ranked fifth and sixth, with Colgate (59), American (53), Bucknell (51) and Lafayette (19) rounding out the preseason poll.
 
Navy Preseason All-Patriot League Selections
Leelee Denton – Attacker | Sr. | 5-9 | Nashville, Tenn. | Harpeth Hall
Denton is a three-year letterwinner at attack for Navy. The senior has played in 48 games, making 23 starts. In her career, Denton has tallied 86 points on 75 goals with 11 assists. Last season, the Nashville native recorded a career-high 40 goals with a 57.1 shot percentage. Additionally, she has picked up 23 ground balls with five draw controls and a pair of caused turnovers in her three years with the Midshipmen.
 
Emily Messinese – Midfielder | Jr. | 5-4 | Manchester, Md. | Gerstell Academy
Messinese completed her first full season in 2023 after a season-ending injury during her rookie campaign in 2022. The Manchester, Md. native has played and started in 24 games, including all 19 in 2023, amassing 66 total points on 54 goals and 12 assists. She has won 74 draw controls, while picking up 35 ground balls and causing 15 turnovers in just over a full season of competition at Navy.
 
Ava Yovino – Midfielder | So. | 5-8 | Parkland, Fla. | St. Thomas Aquinas
In 2023, Yovino completed one of the best freshman seasons in program history, leading the team with 92 points on 42 goals and a team-best 50 assists during the 2023 season. Additionally, she finished her inaugural season with 51 draw controls, 25 ground balls, and 20 caused turnovers. She etched her name into the Navy freshman record book finishing the top 5 of the rookie annals in points per game (1st), assists per game (1st), points (2nd), assists (2nd), caused turnovers (2nd), caused turnovers per game (3rd), draw controls (4th), draw controls per game (4th), and goals (5th).
 
 
2024 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
1. Loyola, 162 points (18 first-place votes)
2. Army, 140 (2)
3. Navy, 132
4. Lehigh, 118
5. Boston University, 92
6. Holy Cross, 74
7. Colgate, 59
8. American, 53
9. Bucknell, 51
10. Lafayette, 19
 
2024 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Preseason Major Awards
Attacker of the Year – Georgia Latch, Loyola, Jr.
Midfielder of the Year – Brigid Duffy, Army, So.
Defensive Player of the Year – Lily Osborne, Loyola, Jr.
Goalkeeper of the Year – Lauren Spence, Loyola, Jr.
 
2024 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Preseason All-League Team
Hannah Spease, American, Sr., Midfielder
Brigid Duffy, Army, So., Attacker
Julia Gorajek, Army, Sr., Attacker
Allie Boyce, Bucknell, Jr., Attacker
Lauren Drillock, Holy Cross, Sr., Attacker
Hayley Hunt, Lehigh, Sr., Goalkeeper
Olivia Memeger, Lehigh, Sr., Attacker
Gabby Schneider, Lehigh, Gr., Attacker
Georgia Latch, Loyola, Jr., Attacker
Lauren Spence, Loyola, Jr., Goalkeeper
Sydni Black, Loyola, Sr., Attacker
Lily Osborne, Loyola, Jr., Defender
Chase Boyle, Loyola, Jr., Midfielder
Ava Yovino, Navy, So., Midfielder
Emily Messinese, Navy, Jr., Midfielder
Leelee Denton, Navy, Sr., Attacker