WALTHAM, Mass. – With five of the team's top six RBI producers and the entire pitching staff returning, the Bentley University Falcons have been ranked fifth in the Northeast-10 Conference softball preseason coaches' poll for the Northeast-10 Division.

Fourth-year head coach Terry M. Prouty graduated three players from last year's squad that posted records of 10-11 in the NE10 Northeast Division and 15-27 overall, but has 16 returning.

The Falcons totaled 58 points in the voting and trailed Saint Anselm (108), Southern New Hampshire (93), Merrimack (89) and Assumption (70). In the Southwest Division, Adelphi University (88) edged out Pace (83) and New Haven (77) for the top spot.

Key returnees for Bentley are second-team All-Conference outfielder Stacey Korotsky (Raynham/ Bridgewater-Raynham HS), a junior who hit .328, and junior infielder Julie Slavin (Rocky Hill, Conn./Rocky Hill HS), a .305 career hitter. Also back are sophomore outfielder Lea Thompson (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull HS), the team leader in RBI (18), and junior outfielder Juliana Romeo (Greenville, R.I./Smithfield HS), who had four home runs.

Bentley will kick off the season with a three-game series at Rollins College Feb. 9-10, the earliest start to the season in program history.

The Falcons will return to Florida for 12 games in The Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. Mar. 9-15 and will open the home schedule Mar. 26.

NORTHEAST-10 CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES POLL

Northeast Division
1. Saint Anselm – 108 (11)
2. Southern New Hampshire – 98 (3)
3. Merrimack – 89 (1)
4. Assumption – 70
5. Bentley – 58
6. Stonehill – 38
7. Franklin Pierce – 38
8. Saint Michael's – 33

Southwest Division
1. Adelphi – 99 (4)
2. Pace – 83 (7)
3. New Haven – 77 (3)
4. Le Moyne – 70 (1)
5. Southern Connecticut St. – 30
6. Saint Rose – 34
7. American International – 23