WALTHAM, Mass. – The senior-laden Bentley University field hockey team was listed fifth in the preseason Northeast-10 Conference coaches' poll, which was released Friday.

The Falcons, who returned 19 of 20 players from last year's 10-9 squad, collected 89 points in the voting, finishing eight points back of number four Merrimack College.

Eleven of the 13 first-place votes were split between the top three with LIU Post, Adelphi University and Stonehill College closely lumped together. LIU Post, last year's national runner-up, received five firsts and 135 points, Adelphi two and 127, and defending NE-10 champion Stonehill four and 125. Number seven American International and number nine St. Michael's College each received one first place vote from an opposing coach.

The list of veterans for coach Jessica Spencer's team includes four seniors who have played in each of the Falcons' 57 contests since their arrival on campus. They are forward Meghan Talerman (Centerville/Barnstable HS) and midfielders Kelsey Howard (Scarborough, Maine/Scarborough HS), Sally James (Mequon, Wisc./Univ. School of Milwaukee) and Becca Moore (Belmont/Belmont HS). Moore led the 2014 Falcons in assists (6) and was second in points, Talerman (22 career goals) is a two-time All-Conference pick, and both James and Howard have been steady contributors throughout their careers.

Bentley opens the season next Friday night with a non-conference home game against Assumption College. The first NE-10 contest is Sept. 18 against Southern New Hampshire.

2015 Northeast-10 Field Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. LIU Post - 135 (5)
2. Adelphi - 127 (2)
3. Stonehill - 125 (4)
4. Merrimack - 97
5. Bentley - 89
6. Assumption - 88
7. American Int'l - 82 (1)
8. Saint Anselm - 77
9. Saint Michael's - 69 (1)
10. So. Connecticut - 44
11. Franklin Pierce - 41
12. So. New Hampshire - 28
13. Pace - 12
(#) - indicates first-place votes