Owls Picked Third in LEC Preseason Softball Poll

Keene State College earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament field last season, sporting an overall record of 28-9. The Owls, under the direction of Head Coach Charlie Beach, received a first place vote and 40 total points in the preseason rankings. Keene State College returns seven seasoned positional players and ace senior hurler Ashlee Nicolson (Swanzey, N.H.).

The Western Connecticut State University softball team edged Rhode Island College in the 2008 Little East Conference Coaches' Preseason Poll, released by the conference office this afternoon. The Colonials received four of the possible seven first place votes and 45 total points, outpointing the Anchorwomen by just two markers to enter the season as the preseason favorites.

All eight Little East Conference head coaches cast a vote in the annual preseason coaches' poll, but were not allowed to select their own teams. Rhode Island College received three first place votes, while Keene State College earned the remaining selection.

Under the direction of Head Coach Heather Stone, Western Connecticut State University captured the 2007 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) New England Tournament, and advanced to the championship round of the Little East Conference Championship Tournament last spring. The 2007 Colonials' squad posted an overall record of 28-13, placing second in the conference standings with a 10-4 mark. Stone welcomes back six position players and two starting pitchers from last season, including the 2007 Little East Conference Co-Pitcher of the Year Shelby Slie (Seymour, Conn.). Western Connecticut opens the 2008 slate in Osceola, Fla. against Grove City on Friday, March 14.

Rhode Island College has advanced to the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons as the Little East Conference automatic qualifier. Under the leadership of Head Coach Maria Morin, the Anchorwomen won a program-best 41 games last spring and claimed the 2007 NCAA New England Regional Tournament and the 2007 Little East Conference Championship Tournament. Rhode Island College boasts three all-conference, first-team selections on its current roster, including two-time Little East Conference Player of the Year Christie Lotti (Waterford, Conn.). The Anchorwomen play their first 10 games of the season at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla.

The second tier of the preseason standings includes Eastern Connecticut State University, the University of Southern Maine, and Plymouth State University, respectively. The Warriors and Huskies finished tied for fourth in the Little East Conference last spring followed by the Panthers.

UMass Dartmouth and UMass Boston round out the 2008 conference preseason coaches' rankings.

2008 Little East Conference Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Western Connecticut (4), 45 pts. 2. Rhode Island College (3), 43 pts. 3. Keene State College (1), 40 pts. 4. Eastern Connecticut, 30 pts. 5. University of Southern Maine, 26 pts. 6. Plymouth State University, 20 pts. 7. UMass Dartmouth, 11 pts. 8. UMass Boston, 9 pts.