Little East Conference preseason field hockey poll released

Panthers picked to finish third among 12 schools

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Little East Conference pre-season field hockey coaches’ poll has been released and Plymouth State University has been picked to finish third among 12 schools in this year’s race.  The votes were cast by the conference’s head coaches.

            The Panthers, who finished in a three-way tie for third place in last year’s LEC standings, received 125 points in this year’s poll.  Defending regular season and tournament champion University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a strong favorite to repeat its title, receiving nine of the 12 first-place votes for 140 points.  Keene State College got one two top votes and finished runner-up with 129 points, and PSU was third with two first-place votes.  The University of Southern Maine edged Fitchburg State University for fourth place, and Bridgewater State University was right behind in sixth. 

            PSU, which has advanced to the ECAC New England Tournament title game the past three seasons, made it count in 2010, winning the championship and finishing with a 14-7 overall record. Led by 12th-year head coach Bonnie Lord, the Panthers open this year’s schedule on Saturday, Sept. 3, at Endicott College.

            The LEC field hockey schedule includes one regular season game against the other 11 schools.  The conference tournament, which includes the top eight teams, is the first week in November, with the LEC champion receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

2011 LEC Field Hockey Preseason Coaches’ Poll

 (first-place votes in parentheses)

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