WALTHAM, Mass. – Coming off a 14-6 season a year ago that included the team's first NCAA berth in nearly a decade , the Bentley University field hockey team is ranked third in the Northeast-10 Conference preseason coaches poll, which was announced Tuesday.

Coach Jessica Spencer's Falcons received 140 points in the voting, which trailed only Assumption University (165) and Saint Anselm College (154). First-place votes were split between Assumption (10) and Saint Anselm (4).

Rounding out the top five were Adelphi University (134) and Pace University (127).

Spencer lost six starters to graduation but returns last three of last year's top five scorers. Senior Ava Bevilacqua (Dedham/Notre Dame Academy) led the way with 10 goals and three assists for 23 points. Junior Katie Thies (Liverpool, N.Y./Cicero North Syracyse HS) followed with seven goals and one assist. Each had two game-winners.

Also back is Lida Coco (Litchfield, Conn./Canterbury School), who scored five times and had 12 points as a freshman.

Bentley opens its schedule with five straight non-conference games, including a season-opening two-game trip to Pennsylvania Sept. 2-4. The NE10 opener is at home Sept. 24 against Mercy College.

NORTHEAST-10 PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Assumption – 105 (10)
2. Saint Anselm – 154 (4)
3. Bentley – 140
4. Adelphi – 134
5. Pace – 127
6. New Haven – 105
7. Southern New Hampshire – 99
8. St. Thomas Aquinas – 77
9. Saint Michael's – 69
10. American International – 61
11. Franklin Pierce – 55
12. Southern Connecticut – 38
13. Mercy – 33
14. Molloy – 17