FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2016
Panthers Top NE-10 Women’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Poll
MANSFIELD, Mass. – Two-time defending NCAA National Champion Adelphi has been picked to three-peat as Northeast-10 Champions, as the NE-10 Women’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Poll was announced by the conference office on Friday.
For complete results of the poll, which is voted upon by the league’s head coaches, please see below.
The Panthers claimed 168 total points along with 12 first-place votes. Adelphi went 21-1 (12-1 NE-10) a season ago en route to both the NE-10 Championship and National Championship. The Panthers have won the conference title five times in the last six seasons. Despite losing some key members from last season’s championship squad, Adelphi is set to bring back major pieces including all-conference first-teamers Rachel O’Brien, Camille Rosellini and Ryley Weber, as well as 2015 NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player Taylor Hayes.
Le Moyne took the second spot in the poll with 145 points and the other two first-place votes. New Haven was right behind in third with 142 points followed by Stonehill in fourth with 136. Adelphi, Le Moyne, New Haven and Stonehill all made the NCAA Championship field last season. Just two weeks after defeating the Dolphins in the NE-10 Championship Game, the Panthers defeated Le Moyne in the national semifinals before taking down Lock Haven, 5-4, in overtime to take the title.
Bentley took the fifth spot in the coaches’ poll with 115 points, while Saint Anselm came in at No. 6 with 99 total points. Assumption was seventh with 92 points, Southern New Hampshire was eighth with 84, Saint Michael’s was ninth with 71 and Pace garnered 55 points to round out the top 10. Franklin Pierce and Merrimack tied for 11th with 50 points apiece, while Southern Connecticut (13th – 32 pts.) and American International (14th – 24) concluded the 14-team field.
Adelphi was ranked as the No. 1 team in the country in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Preseason Poll. Le Moyne was second, while New Haven came in at No. 4. Also appearing in the national poll were Stonehill (9th), Bentley (18th) and Saint Anselm (20th).
Reigning NE-10 Player of the Year Erica Geremia is set to return for Le Moyne along with first team all-conference choices Vicki Graveline, Maggie Monnat and Amari Pollard.
The 2016 Northeast-10 Championship is slated to begin with quarterfinal contests on Wednesday, May 4. The semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, May 7 with the finals to follow on Sunday, May 8.
2016 Northeast-10 Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Adelphi - 168 (12)
2. Le Moyne - 145 (2)
3. New Haven - 142
4. Stonehill - 136
5. Bentley - 115
6. Saint Anselm - 99
7. Assumption - 92
8. Southern New Hampshire - 84
9. Saint Michael’s - 71
10. Pace - 55
t-11. Franklin Pierce - 50
t-11. Merrimack - 50
13. Southern Connecticut - 32
14. American International - 24
ABOUT THE NORTHEAST-10
The Northeast-10 Conference is an association of 15 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that is committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 6,500 student-athletes.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE-10 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 Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
