CALDWELL, N.J.- The Caldwell University Women's Lacrosse team opens their 2018 season on the road at St. Thomas Aquinas on Thursday, March 15. The Cougars are looking to return to the postseason after their successful run the past two seasons.
 
Caldwell was selected to finish in fifth place in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. The Cougars, entering the program's fifth season, reached the CACC Tournament for a second straight season in 2017.
 
Georgian Court University was picked to repeat the champions with 96 points and seven first-place votes. Jefferson was selected to finish in second place with 83 points, while Dominican College earned 79 points and one first place vote for third place. Chestnut Hill College totaled two first place votes and 74 points to take fourth place in the poll. The Cougars earned 56 points to take fifth place.
 
The Cougars, under first-year Head Coach Jenna Dingler, look to extend their tournament streak to three years in a row after reaching the CACC Quarterfinals the past two seasons. Caldwell set the program win record as they finished with a 7-9 record in 2017. The Cougars took fifth place in the CACC with a 5-4 record and came up short to #4 seed Chestnut Hill 12-6 in the quarterfinals.
 
Caldwell looks to build on last season's accomplishments as they return a pair of all-conference selections. Junior Rachel Lucia (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) was selected as the CACC Defensive Player of the Year as well as being honored on the All-Conference First Team. She was third on the team with 34 points and 30 goals. She led the CACC with 66 groundballs and 37 caused turnovers.
 
Sophomore Arden Kassaleh (Pompton Plains, N.J.) was a CACC First Team All-Conference selection as she led the Cougars with 75 points on 65 goals and 10 assists. She set the single season program record in goals and assists in 2017. Kassaleh led the team with four game-winning goals, 22 free-position goals and 50 draw controls. She led the CACC in free position goals and ranked third in the CACC in points and second in goals.
 
Caldwell's 2018 schedule features 13 games, eight of which will be at home. The Cougars play a nine-game CACC schedule and will face five of their conference foes at their home facility at Essex Valley School in West Caldwell. Caldwell's home opener is scheduled for Sunday, March 18 against Molloy College at 1 pm. Their conference home opener will be on Saturday, March 24 against Chestnut Hill. The remainder of their home CACC schedule features Felician University on March 27, Post University on April 10 and Jefferson on April 14. The Cougars wrap up the regular season at home on Saturday, April 21 against Nyack College.