STANDISH, ME – The Saint Joseph's College Field Hockey team has been forecasted to finish third in the North Atlantic Conference this fall, according to a preseason poll voted on by league coaches.

Castleton State College has been chosen to finish at the top of the 2010 conference field hockey standings. The Spartans, who received one first place votes and 56 points, return seven starters including senior forward Courtney Nolan from a squad that was 6-1 in conference play a season ago.

Husson University received four first place votes and 54 points for second place in the poll. The Eagles have 10 starters returning from a team that won the NAC Championship as the fourth seed knocking off top seeded St. Joe's in the semifinals before defeating Farmington 2-0 in the title contest.

Saint Joseph's, 14-4 overall and 7-0 in NAC play last season, has posted a staggering 12-1 record against conference opponents in two seasons as a league member. The Monks, who received two first place votes and 50 points in the poll, return several key players, including senior forward Kayla Nowell (Bridgton, ME) and senior defender Alyssa Dunn (Standish, ME). Senior forward Courtney Rague (Old Orchard Beach, ME) and junior Sarah Bartell (Exeter, NH) also return, as does third-year netminder Meaghan Johnson (Portland, ME/Cheverus).

The University of Maine at Farmington received one first place vote with 47 points. Farmington will be led by a trio of seniors including two-time first-team all-conference performer Emma Deans, forward Hattie Laliberte and goalkeeper Sarah Brown.

Saint Joseph's will kick off the 2010 campaign with a non-conference contest at Framingham State on September 2nd.

2010 NAC Preseason Poll (1st place votes):