NEW YORK, N.Y. – Graduate student, Kate Shaffer, was named the BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year on Wednesday morning as announced by the BIG EAST Conference. Shaffer, who started in all 19 games for the Huskies in 2023, tallied 55 goals and 28 assists, with a career of 122 goals and 46 assists.

She ended the 2023 campaign as USA Lacrosse All-American Honorable Mention, IWLCA Second Team Northeast Region, BIG EAST Co-Attacker of the Year, All-BIG EAST First Team, and BIG EAST All-Tournament Team. Shaffer was also named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team along with teammates Landyn White, Rayea Davis, and Maddy George.

White, a highly decorated veteran goalkeeper for the Huskies, ended 2023 as IL Women All-American Honorable Mention, USA Lacrosse All-American Honorable Mention, IWLCA Second Team Northeast Region, BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year; All-BIG EAST First Team, and BIG EAST All-Tournament Team. She notched 217 saves with a 51.2 save percentage. Davis, a redshirt sophomore attacker for the Huskies, saw her first season in 2023. She scored 28 goals and tallied 18 assists. George, a grad student midfielder who was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team, notched 9 goals with 2 assists, and a career-high 93 draw controls.

UConn was placed at No. 2 in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll behind 2023 BIG EAST Tournament Champions, Denver. The Huskies were named No. 22 in the Division I IL Women/IWLCA poll earlier in the week.

Tickets for the 2024 UConn Lacrosse campaign are on sale now and can be found here.

BIG EAST Preseason Poll
First Place Votes in ()

1. Denver (6)           36 pts
2. Connecticut        29
3. Villanova             25
4. Georgetown (1) 21
5. Marquette          19
6. Butler                  10
7. Xavier                   7