The Minutewomen head into the season a near-unanimous top overall selection in the poll, securing 99 total points behind nine first-place votes. Returning A-10 Co-Offensive Player of the Year Haley Connaughton headlines the veteran corps for UMass chosen for the Preseason All-Conference Team, as she is joined by the midfielder duo of Amy Moreau and Olivia Muscella along with the defender pair of Courtney Barrett and Audra Tosone. Massachusetts clinched the program's 11th title last year – good for the team's first since 2017 – after composing a 15-3 overall mark and 8-0 run in A-10 competition, eventually defeating fourth-seeded Saint Joseph's in the championship finale.
 
Saint Joseph's slotted in at second on the Preseason Poll, logging 83 total points and one first-place vote. Senior attacker Lauren Figura, a 2021 second-team All-Conference pick, registered the lone spot on the preseason squad for the Hawks. SJU advanced to the A-10 championship final a season ago following a successful 10-6 (6-2) run, upsetting the top-seeded Spiders in the semifinals before faltering in the title match to UMass.
 
Richmond collected 82 total points en route to a No. 3 ranking in the poll. Notably, the Spiders notched the second-most players on the Preseason All-Conference Team with four student-athletes garnering recognition, including returning A-10 Defensive Player of the Year Brittney Wright, junior midfielder Sophia DiCenso and 2021 second-team selections Lindsey Frank and Jax Donohue. Richmond earned the conference's No. 1 overall seed during the 2021 campaign following an undefeated 7-0 record in league play and an 11-2 mark overall, falling in the semifinals to fourth-seeded Saint Joseph's.
 
With 73 total points, Davidson grabbed fourth in the poll, placing a trio of student-athletes on the Preseason All-Conference squad in the process. Defending Rookie of the Year Julianne Carey served as the highlight for the Wildcats while fellow sophomore Noelle Cegielski and junior goalkeeper Amanda Monahan received the nod as well. Under the direction of returning Coach of the Year Kim Wayne, Davidson captured the third overall seed in the A-10 championship this past year, dropping the semifinals clash with eventual champion Massachusetts and finishing with an 11-4 (6-2) record.
 
Duquesne was selected fifth with 50 points while VCU slid in at sixth with 46 points. George Washington and La Salle deadlocked at seventh with 39 points apiece while the Explorers' own Emily Johnston, a 2021 second-team All-Conference choice, earned the final spot on the preseason squad.

George Mason (27 points) and St. Bonaventure (12 points) rounded out the poll.
 
The 2022 Atlantic 10 Women's Lacrosse season launches on Friday, Feb. 11 with nine of the 10 programs getting started within the first two days. Conference play begins on Friday, March 25 before the league concludes the campaign with the 2022 Atlantic 10 Women's Lacrosse Championship, set for Apr. 28 – May 1 at Garber Field on the campus of the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Mass.
 

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