WALTHAM, Mass. – The Bentley University field hockey team finished fifth in the Northeast-10 Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, which was unveiled Wednesday.

The Falcons received 127 points in the poll. That had them just behind Pace University and Adelphi University, who tied for third with 141 points each. The Setters were given the slight edge with four first-place votes to the Panthers' two.

Assumption University and Saint Anselm College, the top two teams in last season's NE10 standings, were projected to finish that way again by the coaches. Assumption topped the poll with 157 points and five first-place votes and Saint Anselm was close behind with 153 points and three first-place votes.

The Falcons were 9-4 in the NE10 last season, good for tie for third place with Adelphi. Longtime head coach Jessica Spencer, who welcomed her team back for preseason on Sunday, had 20 players return from last year's squad.

Five of the top six goal scorers return, led by NFHCA second team All-America Lida Coco (Litchfield, Conn./Canterbury) and senior Katie Thies (Liverpool, N.Y./Cicero North), who both notched seven goals. Eight of the top ten point scorers return as well, with second team All-Conference midfielder Madison Halas (Danbury, Conn./Immaculate HS), a grad student, a part of that group.

Defensively, Spencer has starters Emily Crowell (Oakland, Maine/Messalonskee) and Annie O'Brien (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough) return. Crowell was named third team All-Conference last season.

Junior goalies Erin McGuinness (Rutland, Mass./Wachusett) and Mia Trottie (Cinnaminson, N.J./Bishop Eustace) both return after splitting time last season.

The Falcons open their season on Labor Day Weekend with a pair of tough home games. They host Millersville University on Sunday, September 3 at 12:00 PM and West Chester Labor Day at 1:00 PM. 

2023 NE10 FIELD HOCKEY PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. Assumption – 157 (5)
2. Saint Anselm – 153 (3)
3. Pace – 141 (4)
3. Adelphi – 141 (2)
5. Bentley – 127
6. New Haven – 105
7. Southern New Hampshire – 95
8. St. Thomas Aquinas – 86
9. Saint Michael's – 66
10. American International – 53
11. Mercy – 51
12. Franklin Pierce – 47
13. Southern Connecticut – 37
14. Molloy - 15