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WINTHROP, Mass. – Ahead of Albertus Magnus College field hockey's second varsity season, the Falcons were picked ninth in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) 2019 Preseason Coaches' Poll. Albertus, who played as an independent in their inaugural season, picked up nine points in Tuesday's poll.
Saint Joseph's College of Maine picked up the top spot on the list with 81 points after receiving all nine first-place votes. The Monks ended 2018 with a 19-2 overall record and their third consecutive GNAC championship.
Lasell University was tabbed second on the poll with 72 points. Colby-Sawyer College (57) and Simmons University (56) were back-to-back in third and fourth place, respectively.
Johnson & Wales University rounded out the top five with 46 points, edging out both Anna Maria College (33) and Regis (Mass.) College (32). Rivier University tallied 19 points to just top Albertus in eighth place.
The Falcons' 2019 season opener will come on Friday, August 30, at home against Dean College. The non-league tilt is slated to begin at 4:00 PM at Celentano Field.
2019 GNAC Field Hockey Preseason Poll
1. Saint Joseph's of Maine (9) - 81
2. Lasell - 72
3. Colby-Sawyer - 57
4. Simmons - 56
5. Johnson & Wales - 46
6. Anna Maria - 33
7. Regis - 32
8. Rivier - 19
9. Albertus Magnus - 9
Albertus Magnus College, founded in 1925 by the Dominican Sisters of Peace, is a Catholic College in the Dominican Tradition. It is recognized as a Top 100 Regional University in the north by US News & World Report Best Colleges guide for 2019. The College has an enrollment of 1,500 students in its traditional undergraduate program, accelerated adult degree programs, and 12 graduate programs, including a new Master of Public Administration and the only Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling in Connecticut. In the last few months, the College received two significant federal grants, $300,000 from the Department of Justice and a $2 million Title III grant from the Department of Education.