W. Lax ranked sixth in IWLCA preseason poll

Spring has arrived early in Philadelphia and with it, signs of spring sports. The Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Association released its annual preseason poll and, to nobody's surprise, Penn once again cracked the Top 10.

This year's Quakers — coming off their fourth-straight Ivy championship — were ranked No. 6. in 2011. The top five were Maryland, Northwestern, North Carolina, Duke and Syracuse in that order.

This marks a drop of three spots from last year's preseason poll, in which Penn was ranked third ahead of UNC, Duke and Syracuse. Penn's run in the NCAA tournament last year was ended in the quarterfinals by No. 1 and eventual champion Maryland.

Penn will first see action at home against Drexel next weekend before an early ranked bout with UNC. Six teams on Penn's schedule were ranked in the IWLCA's preseason Top 20.