FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Panthers Ranked No. 1 in IWLCA Preseason Rankings.
MANSFIELD, Mass. – Reigning NCAA champion Adelphi, which was recently crowned No. 1 in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Preseason Poll, has been chosen to finish first in the Southwest Division of the Northeast-10 Conference Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Poll.
Adelphi, the 2019 NCAA champion, received 86 points and eight first-place votes, edging Le Moyne – the No. 3 ranked team in the IWLCA Poll – for the top spot. The Dolphins recorded 84 points and six first-place tallies. Pace came in at third in voting with 61 points.
Bentley came out on top in the Northeast Division by the tightest of margins, securing 79 points and five first-place votes to Assumption's 78 points and seven first-place tallies. Saint Anselm (68 points) and Stonehill (64 points) were close behind.
Full results from the poll are below.
NE10 women's lacrosse will be played in a divisional format this season to address interstate travel restrictions as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the full schedule release, click here.
It is Adelphi's second-straight season atop the NE10 Coaches' Poll. The Panthers are coming off a 19-3 campaign (12-1 NE10) in the 2019 season, which culminated in an 11-5 win over West Chester on May 19 to become nine-time NCAA champions. Adelphi travels to play Le Moyne on March 27 and hosts the Dolphins on April 17.
Bentley, a two-time NE10 runner-up, is coming off an 11-6 record (9-4 NE10) and a trip to the NE10 quarterfinals in 2019. The Falcons play Assumption in their season-opener on March 17, the first of two scheduled meetings between the programs (also April 14).
Seven NE10 programs are in the Top 25 of the IWLCA Preseason Poll entering the season, with Adelphi and Le Moyne sitting in the top three. New Haven (No. 15), Assumption (No. 16), Bentley (No. 17), Saint Anselm (No. 18) and Pace (No. 25) were also recognized in the rankings.
The 2021 season begins with league play on Wednesday, March 17. The schedule features 12 games for each program, including two open dates, and concludes on Saturday, May 1.
The dates for the NE10 Women's Lacrosse Championship will be announced later in March, along with plans for postseason format, seeding and tiebreakers.
ABOUT THE NE10
Beginning its 40th anniversary season, the NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.