Aug 17, 2005
South Easton, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Lowell men and the Stonehill College women are favorites to win their respective Northeast-10 titles, according to the 2005 men’s and women’s cross country preseason coaches’ polls.
On the men’s side, Stonehill trailed the River Hawks by just two overall points and two less first place nods. The close vote is reflective of last season’s conference championship meet, in which the two-time defending Northeast-10 championship race winner UMass Lowell, placed second behind Stonehill in the chase for the league title.
Southern Connecticut State University placed third in the poll with 160 points, while Bentley College came in right behind the Owls with 158. Bryant University garnered fifth place with 134 points. Saint Michael’s College collected 117 tallies and sixth place, while Merrimack College totaled for 108 points.
Assumption College, The College of Saint Rose, Le Moyne College, Saint Anselm College, Pace University, Franklin Pierce College and Southern New Hampshire University rounded out the preseason poll.
On the women’s side, Stonehill, winner of five straight Northeast-10 titles, garnered 13 of the 14 first place votes to finish on top of the field with 195 points.
UMass Lowell took the second spot with 181 points and the final first place vote. Bentley received 168 points to finish third, 15 points in front of fourth place finisher Assumption. The Le Moyne women earned 130 points to secure the fifth position, while Bryant placed sixth with 115 tallies and Southern Connecticut totaled for 101 points and a seventh place spot.
Saint Anselm, Merrimack, Saint Rose, Saint Michael’s, Southern New Hampshire, Franklin Pierce and Pace rounded out the preseason poll.
Bryant will host the 2005 Northeast-10 Cross Country Championships on October 23. Sponsoring 23 championship sports and 15 full-time members, the Northeast-10 is the second largest NCAA Division II athletic conference in the nation and sponsors the most championships of any Division II conference.
2005 Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll
Place Team Points
1. UMass Lowell (8) 190
2. Stonehill (6) 188
3. Southern Connecticut 160
4. Bentley 158
5. Bryant 134
6. Saint Michael’s 117
7. Merrimack 108
8. Assumption 96
9. Saint Rose 76
10. Le Moyne 73
11. Saint Anselm 65
12. Pace 37
13. Franklin Pierce 35
14. Southern New Hampshire 33
(First place votes in parentheses.)
2005 Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Place Team Points
1. Stonehill (13) 195
2. UMass Lowell (1) 181
3. Bentley 168
4. Assumption 143
5. Le Moyne 130
6. Bryant 115
7. Southern Connecticut 101
8. Saint Anselm 97
9. Merrimack 88
10. Saint Rose 85
11. Saint Michael’s 74
12. Southern New Hampshire 37
13. Franklin Pierce 29
14. Pace 27
(First place votes in parentheses.)
