ROSEMONT, IL – Johns Hopkins senior Maeve Barker, junior Georgie Gorelick and sophomore Annie Marshall have been named to the 2023 Big Ten Players to Watch list and the Blue Jay women's lacrosse team was picked to finish fifth in the league's preseason poll of head coaches. Three players from each of the Big Ten's six teams were named as players to watch.
 
Maryland is the preseason favorite to win the Big Ten, followed by Northwestern, Rutgers, Michigan, Hopkins, Ohio State and Penn State.
 
Barker returns after starting 18 games on attack. She ranked second on the team with 12 assists and tied for third with 23 goals. She posted 12 multi-point games and finished the season on a 16-game point streak. Gorelick saw action in 17 games in the midfield and finished fifth on the team in goals (20) and assists (5). She was also tied for second with seven free position goals. Marshall played 18 games in her freshman campaign as a center draw specialist. She totaled six ground balls, six draw controls and three caused turnovers.
 
All seven teams will qualify for the 2023 Big Ten Women's Lacrosse Tournament, with the top team in the final league standings earning a bye into the semifinals. The teams that finish second, third and fourth will host quarterfinal games on Saturday, April 29. Ohio State will host the semifinals (May 4) and finals (May 6).
 
Hopkins, which is ranked 20^th in the IL Women/IWLCA poll, will open the season on Sunday, February 12 versus Albany. Opening draw is scheduled for 1:00 pm at Homewood Field.
 
2023 BIG TEN WOMEN'S LACROSSE PRESEASON POLL
1. Maryland
2. Northwestern
3. Rutgers
4. Michigan
5. Johns Hopkins
6. Ohio State
7. Penn State