BUENA VISTA, Va.  - A long offseason is coming to a close for the Southern Virginia University women's lacrosse team, signaled by the release of the USA South Coaches Preseason Poll on Wednesday afternoon.

The Knights, who are coming off an appearance in the conference semifinals, were picked to finish fourth for the third consecutive season. They've stayed true to the poll the last two seasons, finishing fourth in the league standings each time.

Now in Head Coach Olivia Cope's third season at the helm, Southern Virginia looks to move up a couple of spots by the end of the year. They've finished at .500 or better in overall record for each of the last four seasons, and have won at least six conference contests each time. 

The eleven-time league champion, Meredith, was picked as the favorite while Piedmont and Methodist slot in behind them.

The Knights returning cast features senior Ellie Patterson, who's 71 points and 31 caused turnovers led the team in 2025. A pair of sophomores in Ricky Richards and Sydney Bastian should also make a significant impact in the starting lineup.

Southern Virginia has finished second in the conference standings twice, including in 2023 when they were one goal away from claiming their first tournament championship in program history.

Season Opener

The 2026 season will get underway for the Knights on Saturday, February 21st when they visit Marymount in Arlington, Virginia. The opening draw is set for 3:00 PM.

Virginia Wesleyan will be the opposition for Southern Virginia's home opener at Knight Stadium on Thursday, February 26th.

For the most up-to-date information and details on the team, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_wlax on Instagram.