Link: Complete GNAC Release
Winthrop, Mass. – The Albertus Magnus College softball squad has been picked to finish second in the South Division in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Softball Coaches' Preseason Poll, as announced by the league office on Wednesday morning.
As voted upon by the league's head coaches, Suffolk topped the North Division with seven first-place votes and 63 points overall, while Johnson & Wales led the way in the South Division with 10 first-place votes and 70 points.
Behind JWU, Albertus received 51 points and the final two first-place tallies in the voting, as the Falcons prepare for their second season on campus at the Shea Softball Complex.
Simmons University was third in the South with 49 points, while the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) was fourth with 45 points. Making up the remainder of the South was Lasell College (23 points) and Regis College (14 points).
In 2019, the league schedule will feature doubleheaders against all five divisional opponents, plus three more doubleheaders against three of its six non-divisional foes. All 16 of those games will count in the GNAC standings for postseason tournament positioning.
The softball team opens the 2019 campaign on Sunday, March 10th as the Falcons take part in the Fastpitch Dreams Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Falcons will play eight games over a five-day span.
Founded in 1995, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 13 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Each year, the GNAC sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunities and community involvement.
2019 GNAC SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL
NORTH DIVISION
1) Suffolk (7) – 63
2) Emmanuel (5) – 59
3) Saint Joseph's Maine – 54
4) Norwich – 32
5) Rivier – 31
6) Anna Maria - 13
SOUTH DIVISION
1) Johnson & Wales (10) – 70
2) Albertus Magnus (2) – 51
3) Simmons – 49
4) Saint Joseph (Conn.) – 45
5) Lasell – 23
6) Regis - 14
