Field Hockey Selected Third in GNAC Preseason Poll
WINTHROP, Mass.—The Anna Maria College field hockey team has been selected third in the 2015 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the league on Thursday morning.
Simmons College, who won last year's GNAC regular season and tournament titles last season, was selected to repeat in 2015 as they recorded four first-place votes. Saint Joseph's College of Maine, who the AMCATS upset in the semifinals of last season's tournament, were picked to finish second.
Anna Maria returns the defending GNAC Offensive Player of the Year in senior Kylie Dalbec (Portland, Maine). The leading scorer in the GNAC's inaugural season, Dalbec tallied 21 goals as a junior and also led the league in total points with 48. She scored a league-leading nine game-winning goals in 2014, including three in conference play and the game-winner in Anna Maria's upset win against St. Joseph's in the GNAC Semifinals.
Finishing behind the AMCATS in the poll were Johnson & Wales, Lasell, Rivier, and Mount Ida.
The AMCATS open the 2015 campaign on Tuesday, September 1 in a 5:00 p.m. game at Eastern Connecticut State. The team will open league play on Thursday, September 17th in a home contest against Mount Ida.
2015 GNAC Field Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Simmons (4) - 46
2. Saint Joseph's of Maine (2) - 39
3. Anna Maria - 33
4. Johnson & Wales (1) - 31
5. Lasell - 25
6. Rivier - 14
7. Mount Ida – 8
