[Women's Lacrosse] Bees finish No. 10 in final NAIA Coaches' Top 10 Poll
St. Ambrose finished No. 10 in the final regular-season edition of the 2022 NAIA Women's Lacrosse Top 10 Poll. SAU had a 12-4 overall record, with a 6-2 mark in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC). This is the first time the Bees have finished the year ranked in the Top 10. The Bees made it to their first-ever conference championship game, falling to Benedictine. Benedictine came in at No. 5 in the final poll.
SAU set a program record in caused turnovers in 2022, forcing 135 on the year, including a program-high 21 against Georgetown. Maura Healy and Audrey Warner were named second-team all-KCAC. Healy will graduate as SAU's career leader in ground balls and caused turnovers. Warner led the Bees in goals with 43 and points (53) in 2022.
Allie Ruggiero became the second player in St. Ambrose women's lacrosse to surpass 100 career points. Ruggerio set a single-game record in assists on April 3rd, with six. Morgan Curzon set a single-season record in caused turnovers with 24 this season. Maddie Wiltrout won 82 draw controls in 2022, a new single-season record, and is now SAU's career leader in draws. Maggie Samson made 103 saves on the season, moving her to the top of the career list for St. Ambrose. Lauren Hoesly continued to add to her career lead in assists, recording 25 this season. Anabelle Brown, Sarah Diehl, Alivia Uebersetzig, Healy, Warner, and Wiltrout started all 15 games for the Fighting Bees.
St. Ambrose earned two Top 10 wins in 2022 - defeating No. 10 Georgetown College on the road on March 21st and No. 8 Missouri Baptist on April 21st in the KCAC semifinals. The Bees also beat two teams receiving votes in the Top 10 - Concordia (Mich.) and Ottawa. SAU opened its season with a win over NCAA DIII University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse.