February 16, 2007

WOMEN'S LACROSSE PICKED THIRD IN NORTHEAST-10 PRESEASON POLL

Delia Glover scored 41 goals as a freshman and led the NE-10 in 2006 with 12 free position goals.  www.dspics.com

SOUTH EASTON, Mass. - The Bryant University women's lacrosse team was picked to finish third in the Northeast-10 for 2007 following release of the preseason coaches poll on Thursday.  The Bulldogs garnered 100 points in the voting, including one first-place vote. 

Defending conference champion Stonehill was picked to repeat in 2007 with Merrimack picked to finish second.  Bentley and Saint Michael's round out the top five.

Bryant, under the direction of third year coach Karen Rife (formerly Healy), will scrimmage Salve Regina on March 1 before opening the 2007 season on Friday March 16 in Florida against regional power C.W. Post. 

The first home game for the Bulldogs will be on Monday, March 19 when Bryant host New Haven at 4 p.m.  

2007 NE-10 Preseason Poll

1. Stonehill

2. Merrimack

3. BRYANT

4. Bentley

5. Saint Michael's

6. Southern NH

7. Saint Anselm

8. Assumption

9. Southern Conn.

10. AIC

11. Franklin Pierce

Bryant, 11-5 in 2006, will return a pair of all-conference performers from last season in seniors Shaun Leddy (Sea Girt, NJ) and Lauren Carlisle (San Diego, Calif.). 

Leddy had 40 goals and 20 assists in earning first team all-conference honors while Carlisle added 41 goals. 

Rife will also welcome back the return of one of the conference's best freshmen in 2006 in Delia Glover (Marston Mills, Mass.). 

A standout volleyball player, the two-sport athlete notched 41 goals and led the Northeast-10 as a freshman with 12 free position goals in 2006.