WALTHAM, Mass. – The Northeast-10 Conference field hockey coaches have projected the Bentley University Falcons for a ninth-place finish this season, according to the preseason rankings announced by the conference Monday.

Bentley, which shared eighth place with Adelphi a year ago, collected 70 points in the voting. Stonehill College edged out defending champion Saint Anselm College in the voting, 156-154, and the first-place votes were split between Stonehill (5), Saint Anselm (5), LIU Post (3) and Merrimack College (1).

Coach Jessica Spencer's club graduated five starters but returned five of its top six scorers, including senior Niki Neidhart (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch HS) and junior Sam Pavano (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand HS). Neidhart had six goals and six assists in her first Bentley season and Pavano followed with 5-3-13.

In addition, the Falcons return senior Rachel Crowley (Leicester/Notre Dame Acad.) from an injury that kept her sidelined all last season. She totaled six goals during her first two years.

Before embarking on its Northeast-10 schedule on Sept. 14, Bentley will open with four non-conference games. Three of the four are on the road (Adelphi Sept. 1, LIU Post Sept. 9, Molloy Sept. 9) while the only home game during that stretch is Labor Day against West Chester, the reigning Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champion.

NORTHEAST-10 PRESEASON COACHES POLL.