Defending National Champion Tampa Favored by SSC Coaches in 2025 Women’s Lacrosse Poll
Head coaches select the Spartans to win a fifth league title
By: Phil Wood | Sunshine State Conference
MELBOURNE, Fla. – Sunshine State Conference women's lacrosse coaches vote for Tampa as the league's top squad heading into the 2025 season. With 49 points and seven first-place votes in the poll, the Spartans are expected to win the program's first SSC regular-season title since 2023.
Last year's regular-season champs, Florida Southern, landed in second place with 43 points and the remaining first-place vote. Saint Leo took third place with 31 points, while Rollins (27 points) edged out Lynn (26 points) for fourth place. Embry-Riddle (23 points), Florida Tech (18 points), and Palm Beach Atlantic (7 points) rank 6-7-8 in this year's poll.
2025 SSC WLAX SCHEDULE
Last season, Florida Southern won their first SSC regular-season title since 2021, following a 7-0 mark in league play. Tampa finished as runner-up at 6-1, and Saint Leo took third at 5-2 in the conference table. In the SSC tournament final, the Spartans bested the Moccasins, 10-9, to capture the program's third postseason title.
Tampa, Florida Southern, and Lynn earned 2024 NCAA Division II Tournament bids. Tampa defeated Lynn, and Florida Southern downed Flagler in the first round. In the regional final, the Spartans defeated the Mocs 11-9. Tampa defeated Regis (CO) in the national semifinals before claiming the national championship with a 13-8 victory over Adelphi. It marked the first national title in program history and the second for the SSC (FSC, 2016).
The 2025 season begins on Saturday, February 1st, with Embry-Riddle at Alabama-Huntsville and Florida Tech hosting Flagler. Conference play starts on Saturday, March 22nd, with Florida Tech hosting Saint Leo.
Below are the full results of the 2025 SSC preseason coaches' poll. Coaches may not vote for their teams (points: 7-6-5-4-3-2-1, first-place votes in parentheses).
2025 SSC Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll
|
Rank
|
School (FPV)
|
Total Points
|
|
1
|
Tampa (7)
|
49 |
|
2
|
Florida Southern (1)
|
43
|
|
3
|
Saint Leo
|
31
|
|
4
|
Rollins
|
27
|
|
5
|
Lynn
|
26
|
|
6
|
Embry-Riddle
|
23
|
|
7
|
Florida Tech
|
18
|
|
8
|
Palm Beach Atlantic
|
7
|
Previous SSC Women’s Lacrosse Polls and Champions
| Year |
Predicted Winner
(Actual Finish) |
Regular Season Champ
(Preseason Prediction) |
Tournament Champ
(Preseason Prediction) |
| 2024 |
Florida Southern (1st) |
Florida Southern (1st) |
Tampa (1st) |
| 2023 |
Florida Southern (2nd) / Tampa (1st) |
Tampa (T1st) |
Tampa (T1st) |
| 2022 |
Florida Southern (2nd) / Rollins (T3rd) |
Tampa (3rd) |
Florida Southern (T1st) |
| 2021 |
Florida Southern (T1st) |
FSC (1st) / Tampa (2nd) / Rollins (3rd) |
Not Awarded Due to COVID-19 |
| 2020 |
Tampa (N/A) |
Not Awarded Due to COVID-19 |
Not Awarded Due to COVID-19 |
| 2019 |
Florida Southern (T1st) |
FSC (1st) / Rollins (2nd) / Tampa (3rd) |
Tampa (3rd) |
| 2018 |
Florida Southern (1st) |
Florida Southern (1st) |
Florida Southern (1st) |
| 2017 |
Florida Southern (1st) |
Florida Southern (1st) |
Florida Southern (1st) |
| 2016 |
Rollins (2nd) |
Florida Southern (2nd) |
Florida Southern (2nd) |
| 2015 |
Florida Southern (1st) |
Florida Southern (1st) |
Rollins (2nd) |