ROSEMONT, IL – The Johns Hopkins women's lacrosse team has been picked to finish third in the Big Ten in a preseason vote of the league's head coaches. In addition, Madison Doucette, Abbey Hurlbrink and Ava Angello have been named to Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch. Three players from each of the league's seven teams were named as players to watch.
 
Defending national champion Northwestern is the preseason favorite to win the Big Ten in 2024. Maryland was picked second in the poll, followed by Hopkins, Michigan, Penn State, Rutgers and Ohio State.
 
Doucette, who transferred to Hopkins from Northwestern, has been picked as a preseason All-American by USA Lacrosse. She went 32-8 as a starter and led the Wildcats to back-to-back NCAA Final Four appearances. A two-way middie, Hurlbrink totaled 25 points (14g, 11a) 53 draws and 18 ground balls last season. She ranked second on the team in draws and tallied 15 points in the last four games of 2023. Angello burst on the season as one of the top young attackers a year ago. She led the Blue Jays with 40 goals and 53 points and added 13 assists, 17 ground balls and 30 draws.   
 
All seven teams qualify for the Big Ten 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 27. Northwestern will host the semifinals (May 2) and finals (May 4).
 
Hopkins is ranked 14^th in the ILWomen/IWLCA poll and 11^th in the USA Lacrosse Magazine Poll and will open the season at Albany on February 9.
 
2024 Big Ten Preseason Poll
1. Northwestern
2. Maryland
3. Johns Hopkins
4. Michigan
5. Penn State
6. Rutgers
7. Ohio State