Lady AMCATS Third in Pre-Season Field Hockey Poll

Paxton, Mass. – The Anna Maria College field hockey team has been selected to finish in third place in the New England Collegiate Conference as selected by the league's coaches.

The AMCATS, in their first season in the NECC in 2011 scored an upset 3-2 win in the semi-finals versus Wheelock College but fell just short of a conference championship in a 3-1 loss to Regis College.

Regis College has been chosen to finish at the top of the 2012 NECC field hockey standings. The Pride, who received six first place votes and 47 points, return six starters including junior midfielder Stacy Burns and sophomore forward Cheyenne Genga from a team that won the NECC title a season ago.

Wheelock, who was the only conference team to beat Regis a season ago, placed second with 39 points. The Wildcats bring back eight starters including 2011 NECC Player of the Year Despina Savvoulides.

Anna Maria finished third with 37 points and one first place vote. The AMCATS will be led by senior defender Shannon Looney, midfielder Brooke Denver and forward Marybeth McClune from a team that went 4-2 in conference play last season.

2012 NECC Field Hockey Coaches Poll

1. Regis - 47 (6)

2. Wheelock - 39

3. Anna Maria - 37 (1)

4. Becker - 28

5. Elms - 17

6. Daniel Webster - 16

7. Bay Path - 11