NEC Release
SOMERSET, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson softball team has been projected to finish in fifth in the nine-team Northeast Conference, the league announced Wednesday in the annual Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Defending NEC champion Central Connecticut State has been picked to win the championship by the slimmest of margins. The Blue Devils received five first-place votes, while perennial powers LIU Brooklyn and Robert Morris ranked second and third, respectively, with the Blackbirds taking the remaining four first-place votes.
Bryant followed at fourth in the coaches' poll, and the Knights rounding out the top-five. Sacred Heart came in sixth, while Saint Francis U, Mount St. Mary's and Wagner rounded out the poll.
FDU constructed one of its best seasons in program history in 2013 after finishing 23-21 overall and fifth place in the NEC with a record of 10-10. Sophomore right-handed pitcher
Loren Stavrou (Long Beach, Calif./Wilson Classical High School) was named Second Team All-NEC after her freshman campaign.
The Knights begin the 2014 season on Saturday, Feb. 22 with a pair of games at the Spartan Clash, hosted by Norfolk State, in Norfolk, Va. FDU will face La Salle and Delaware State on the first day before taking on Yale and DSU one more time on Sunday.
1. Central Connecticut (5)
2. LIU Brooklyn (4)
3. Robert Morris
4. Bryant
5. Fairleigh Dickinson
6. Sacred Heart
7. Saint Francis U
8. Mount St. Mary's
9. Wagner
First place votes in parentheses
