Field Hockey Selected Third in Inaugural GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
WINTHROP, Mass.—The Anna Maria College field hockey team was selected to finish third in the inaugural Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) preseason poll, as announced by the league office on Thursday afternoon.
The AMCATS, who previously played in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) join the GNAC after posting a 15-7 overall record and a 6-0 record in NECC play last season.
With seven schools sponsoring a field hockey program in the GNAC, the conference tournament champion will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. GNAC Tournament play will kick off on Saturday, November 1, with the top-six qualifying for the postseason.
Anna Maria received 35 points and one first-place vote in the poll, trailing only St. Joseph's College (ME) and Simmons, who had 47 points (five first-place votes) and 40 points (one first-place vote), respectively.
Lasell College was picked to finish fourth with 31 points, while Johnson & Wales and Rivier tied for fifth with 18 points. Mount Ida, in their first season as a varsity team, rounds out the poll with seven votes.
The AMCATS enter the 2014 campaign after winning the NECC championship game against Regis (Mass.). Anna Maria advanced to the first round of the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history, but ultimately saw their season come to a close at the hands of Tufts University.
Anna Maria returns 15 players from last season's championship team, including 2014 captains Nichole Lowe (Saugus, Mass.), a senior forward, and Kylie Dalbec (Portland, Maine), a junior midfielder.
Lowe saw action in 22 games last season and totaled 11 goals and 14 assists for 36 points. She has totaled 74 points in her first three years with the program. Dalbec has scored 12 game-winning goals in her career, and totaled 20 goals and 13 assists last season.
The AMCATS open the season on Saturday, August 30th at home, as they host Colby-Sawyer College for a 12:00 p.m. non-conference matchup.
2014 GNAC Field Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Saint Joseph's (ME) (5) - 47
2. Simmons (1) - 40
3. Anna Maria (1) - 35
4. Lasell - 31
T5. Johnson & Wales - 18
T5. Rivier - 18
7. Mount Ida - 7
( ) - indicates number of first-place votes
