NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Albertus Magnus College softball was picked to finish in second place in the South Division in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) preseason poll released on Thursday.
The Falcons received 97 voting points, including two first-place votes. Last season's South Division champion, Johnson and Wales was picked to finish first with 113 voting points and 10 first-place votes. Lasell was picked third with 94 points and two place votes. The University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) was picked fourth and Mitchell received the remaining first-place vote and 70 points and was chosen fifth.
Defending GNAC champion Simmons was picked to win the North Division once again with 99 voting points and 11 first-place votes. Emmanuel was picked second with 87 points and two first-place votes and Saint Joseph's Maine was picked third with 81 voting points and two first-place votes.
The Falcons will be guided by first-year head coach Lou Bunosso. Last season, the Falcons finished in second place in the south division last season with a 24-20 overall record and 9-3 in the GNAC.
Albertus opens its season in Florida during The Spring Games against Wilmington (Ohio). The Falcons will open up GNAC play at Dean in a doubleheader on April 6.
GNAC PRESEASON POLL (first-place votes)
NORTH DIVISION
| 1 | Simmons | 99 (11) |
| 2. | Emmanuel | 87 (2) |
| 3. | Saint Joseph's (Me.) | 81 (2) |
| 4 | Rivier | 53 |
| 5 | New England College | 47 |
| 6. | Norwich | 30 |
| 7. | Anna Maria | 23 |
SOUTH DIVISION
| 1. | Johnson and Wales | 113 (10) |
| 2. | Albertus Magnus | 97 (2) |
| 3. | Lasell | 94 (2) |
| 4. | University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) | 72 |
| 5. | Mitchell | 70 (1) |
| 6. | Regis | 42 |
| T-7. | Dean | 26 |
| T-7. | Elms | 26 |
