This content originally appeared on SNHUPenmen.com
The Southern New Hampshire University women’s lacrosse team was picked to finish ninth this season, according to the Northeast-10 Preseason Coaches’ Poll that was released Tuesday.
The Penmen totaled up 77 points, with defending national champion Adelphi University being chosen to capture its fifth straight NE10 title, as it racked up 11 first-place votes and 167 total points. Rival Le Moyne College finished second, garnering the three remaining first-place votes and 159 points. The University of New Haven collected 141 points to place third, while Pace University (124) edged Stonehill College (123) for fourth place.
Assumption College’s 102 points slotted it sixth, while Bentley University checked in seventh with 88 points. Saint Anselm College (79) eked past the crosstown-rival Penmen for eighth, with Franklin Pierce University (68) and Merrimack College (54) being selected 10th and 11th, respectively. American International College (36), Saint Michael’s College (28) and Southern Connecticut State University (27) rounded out the bottom of the poll.
Southern New Hampshire, led by second-year head coach Kathryn Beall, finished 7-10 a year ago, after spending the majority of the season above .500. The Penmen return their top-five leading scorers from last season, including IWLCA North All-Region Second Team selection, senior Alexa Bedell (Londonderry, N.H.), who led the team with 71 points on 36 goals and 35 assists. Junior Kristin Wilder (Framingham, Mass.), an NE10 All-Conference selection, led the team with 52 goals, to go along with 11 assists for 63 points.
The Penmen kick off the 2018 season Saturday, Feb. 24 (11 a.m.) at Long Island University-LIU Post.
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