STANDISH, ME - Saint Joseph's College has been picked to finish fifth in the 2012 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Field Hockey Preseason Poll. 

Castleton State College earned seven first-place votes and has been chosen as the preseason favorite to win the NAC Field Hockey title in a vote conducted by the league's coaches. The Spartans, who went a perfect 9-0 during regular season conference play before being upset in last year's conference tournament, return nine starters. Reigning NAC Player of the Year, Rachel Preusser, returns to lead Castleton, which boasts four 2011 all-conference first team honorees returning to the roster in 2012.

Three-time defending champion Husson University received the other three first place votes and 91 total points to place second in the poll. The Eagles entered the 2011 Tournament as the fifth seed and downed the fourth, first and second seeds en route to their third-straight title. Husson returns eight starters from last year's squad, including both offensive and defensive units, led by Mariah Arno who earned all-conference first team accolades last year.

New England College, University of Maine at Farmington and St. Joe's were picked to finish third-through-fifth, with just seven total points separating the three teams.

Lasell and Saint Joseph's will kick off conference play on September 8, while the bulk of the conference schedule begins in earnest on September 15.

COURTESY OF NAC SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE