Nicole Poli ’11 Drafted by Boston Storm of United Women’s Lacrosse League
Poli becomes first Division III player to be drafted by UWLX
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 21, 2017) – Nicole Poli, a defender with the Western New England University women's lacrosse team from 2008-11 and a 2016 Downes Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, was drafted by the Boston Storm of the United Women's Lacrosse League (UWLX) on Monday.
Poli becomes the first and only NCAA Division III player to be drafted into the UWLX, which was founded in 2016 and begins its second season on Memorial Day weekend. The league currently features four teams based in Baltimore, Philadelphia and Long Island in addition to Boston.
"As we thought about building our team for 2017, we wanted a strong defensive presence," said Andrew Fink, the general manager of the Boston Storm. "Nicole still plays competitively and is a tenacious defender that can create turnovers. She also has the athleticism needed to contain the highly skilled attackers she will face every game. We are excited to have her join the Storm family!"
A standout performer during her four-year career at Western New England, Poli was inducted into the University's Downes Athletics Hall of Fame this past September. She established herself as one of the top players in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) as a freshman in 2009, collecting Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading NCAA Division III with 85 caused turnovers in 21 games (4.05 per game). She was also named to the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-Berkshire Region second team and the ECAC All-New England first team.
The Medfield, Mass. native didn't slow down from there, earning All-CCC, All-ECAC New England, and IWLCA All-Berkshire Region accolades in each of the next three seasons. As a senior in 2011, Poli was named the ECAC New England Defensive Player of the Year after claiming CCC Defensive Player of the Year honors for the third time. She was a member of teams that went a combined 58-25 (.699) over her four-year career, finishing with 85 points (61 goals, 24 assists), 309 caused turnovers, 295 ground balls and 153 draw controls in 79 games (78 starts). Poli was also a standout performer for the women's soccer team at Western New England, earning both All-Region and All-Conference accolades.
"I am so incredibly proud of Nicole," Western New England head women's lacrosse coach Aimee Klepacki said. "To be representing Western New England as the only Division III lacrosse player at the professional level is an amazing accomplishment. Nicole was a relentless defender, a hard worker, and a great teammate during her time as a Golden Bear. She gives 110% effort in everything she does, and I know that she will be successful with the Storm."
Poli is currently in her fifth season as the head coach of the women's lacrosse team at Mount Ida College in Newton, Mass. Under Poli's leadership, the Mustangs are in the midst of one of the best seasons in program history with an 11-2 record (4-1 GNAC).