WALTHAM, Mass. – The Bentley University Falcons are ranked tenth in the preseason Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division II national coaches poll after returning seven of the nine full-time starters from last year's 11-8 team.

The Falcons were one of four Northeast-10 Conference members in the top ten with LIU Post third, Merrimack College fifth and Stonehill College seventh. Millersville University topped the voting with eight first-place votes and 159 points while defending national champion Shippensburg University followed with seven and 142.

Players who accounted for 34 of Bentley's 42 goals in 2013 are back this season with the list headed by senior All-Conference forward Gina Lirange (Auburn/Auburn HS). She was fourth in the NE-10 in game-winning goals with five, and finished with 12 goals and 31 points.

Also among the returnees is junior goalkeeper Katie Kelley (Walpole/Walpole HS), whose seven shutouts ranked second nationally in Division II.

Three of the team's first four games are against teams ranked in the top ten, beginning with a Sept. 5 encounter at fourth-ranked West Chester University. All told, coach Jessica Spencer's team is scheduled to play six contests against the preseason top ten.

PENN MONTO/NFHCA DIVISION II PRESEASON POLL

(First place votes in parentheses)