STANDISH, ME – Saint Joseph's College has been picked to finish third in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) this fall, according to a coaches' poll conducted earlier this week.

Husson University, one of four teams to receive at least one first-place vote, garnered five top picks and earned a total of 94 points to top the poll. 2010 NAC Rookie of the Year, Sabrina Vaillancourt, returns for her sophomore season after tallying six goals as a freshman. The Eagles, winners of back-to-back conference titles, also return senior midfielder Lorri Hiltz, a member of the 2010 All-Conference Second Team.

Castleton State College was picked to finish second with two first place votes and 81 total points. The Spartans return seven starters including All-Conference Second Team forward Rachel Preusser.

Saint Joseph's received a pair of first place votes and finished third with 77 points in the annual preseason poll. Head Coach Rupert Lewis, a two-time NAC Coach of the Year honoree, returns a pair of All-Conference First Team selections in goalie Meaghan Johnson '12 (Portland, Maine/Cheverus) and forward Sarah Bartell '12 (Exeter, N.H), but will need to replace some key losses including a trio of first-team honorees and the 2010 conference player of the year, Courtney Rague '11.

Coach Lewis, now in his seventh season at the helm, has guided the Monks to the conference championship game in each of the past three seasons. The team owns a near-perfect 19-1 record against NAC opponents over the last three campaigns.

The Monks, 13-6 overall and 7-0 in league play in 2010, captured the #1 seed in the conference tourney for the second consecutive season and enter the 2011 campaign having won 17 straight regular-season conference games.

New to the NAC in 2011 and finishing in fourth place in this year's poll is New England College. The Pilgrims picked up one first place vote and are led by senior captain Amanda Naimie who was named All-TCCC a season ago.

2011 Field Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll