BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England field hockey team is ranked second in The Commonwealth Coast Conference preseason poll released this afternoon by TCCC Commissioner Gregg M. Kaye.

Defending conference champion Nichols College collected six of nine first-place votes to finish with 75 total points, edging the Nor'easters who amassed 72 total points and three first-place votes. Endicott College (65), New England College (56) and Salve Regina University (39) round out the top five.

The Nor'easters are coming off a school-record 16-win season. After being upset in the semifinal round of the TCCC Championship, the Nor'easters earned a bid to the ECAC New England College and won three straight contests to capture UNE's first-ever ECAC title.

Big Blue returns eight starters from last year's squad, including three first team all-conference selections -- senior midfielder Michaela Franey (York, Maine), senior goaltender Ayla Nelson (Auburn, Mass.) and junior forward Bree Tupper (Winthrop, Maine).

UNE opens its season next Wednesday (Sept. 1) with a 4 p.m. game versus the University of Southern Maine.


The Commonwealth Coast Conference
2010 Preseason Field Hockey Poll

Place	Institution (1st place votes)	Points
1.	Nichols (6)	75
2.	UNE (3)	72
3.	Endicott	65
4.	New England College	56
5.	Salve Regina	39
6.	Gordon	35
7.	Western New England	34
8.	Regis	15
9.	Anna Maria	14