New Brunswick, NJ (U-WIRE) -- After a mediocre 7-8 record last season, the Rutgers women's lacrosse team's 2005 campaign is already turning heads, with senior goalie Lyndsey Feldman having been named Big East Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Feldman joined senior defender also joined Catherine Seals as the two lone Knights selected to the Preseason All-Big East Team.

The Knights were picked to finish fourth in the Big East in the Preseason Poll behind national powerhouses Georgetown, Notre Dame, and Syracuse, who registered first, second and third places, respectively. RU received 12 votes from the coaches - none of which included first-place votes.

Feldman became the second Scarlet Knight to earn a defensive player of the year honor in the past four seasons and the first to be named as the preseason honoree since RU joined the Big East five years ago.

The only other player to receive the honor is first-year RU assistant coach Kristin Checksfield, when she was picked as the Big East 2002 postseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Feldman was a first-team All-Big East selection in 2003 and a second-team choice in 2004. The two-time All-Big East postseason selection played each minute in all but four games last season.

One of Feldman's best games last year was a 12-8 victory over Delaware on Mar. 8, when she recorded 19 saves. Her stellar effort in the Delaware match and a game-high nine saves in a 12-7 win over the Hofstra Blue Hens on Mar. 2 helped earn her Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Week.

The net-minder forced one turnover and three ground balls against the Blue Hens after stopping 14 shots and holding Hofstra scoreless for the first 16:57 of the game.

But the game many remember her dominating was a 9-6 victory against Connecticut, in which she tallied a career-high 26 saves. It was the most saves in a game in Division I play in the nation last year.

Feldman accumulated a 7-7 record last year, holding the opposition to under four goals or less three times. She ended the season leading the Big East and ranking third in the country in save percentage (.577).

The Florida native finished in the top-20 in the nation in goals-against average at 8.52 and has never averaged above 9.00 in goals-against average during her Knights tenure.

Seals is a two-time selection to the postseason All-Big East earning the accolades in 2001 and 2004.

The Long Valley native was the leader last season, posting a team-high 23 caused turnovers and finishing second on the team with 30 ground balls. Seals finished fourth in the Big East in caused turnovers, including a career-high six against Virginia Tech in a 16-7 loss.

She was voted the Knights Defensive Player of the Year - an award instituted by head coach Laura Brand two years ago.

Seals showcased her talent against Syracuse recording five ground balls and four caused turnovers. She also added a strong performance against Cornell totaling five ground balls and one caused turnover.

Seals tallied at least one ground ball in all but two games and one caused turnover in all but three games.

The Knights hit the field for the season-opener at home against Hofstra on Feb. 26 and begin Big East competition Mar. 11, at home against the Boston College Eagles.

(C) 2004 Daily Targum via U-WIRE