Printable Release

CAPE COD, Mass. - Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has claimed the top spot in the 2009-2010 Women's West Coaches Poll.

The Tigers, who posted a 15-2-1 league record (21-3-2 overall) spent the majority of the 2008-2009 campaign ranked in the top 5 of the USCHO Poll. The Tigers are looking forward to a promising year, as they are led by 2008-2009 Co-Coach of the Year Scott MacDonald, and are returning four members of the 2008-2009 Women's West All-Conference Teams, including forwards Sarah Dagg (St. George, Ontario/Hamilton Hawks), Katie Stack(Batavia,NY/Rochester Edge) and Ali Hills (Honeoye Falls, NY/Berkshire School), and defender Traci Galbraith (Oakville,Ontario/Burlington Jr. Barracudas).

Elmira has been picked to finish second with 88 points, receiving four first place votes. The Soaring Eagles skated to a 16-1-1 conference record, 22-5-2 overall record, losing a heartbreaker in the NCAA National Championship game. 2008-2009 Co-Coach of the Year Greg Fargo will lead a team with two 2008-09 ECAC Women's West First-Team All Conference selections returning, defender Jamie Kivi (Green Bay, Wisconsin/Wisconsin Wild U-19), and defender Tiffany Hart (Perth, Ontario/Perth Jr. Wings).  
 
Plattsburgh State received 85 total votes to finish third in the coaches poll. The Cardinals finished the season with a 22-5-2 (15-3-0 league) record. They welcome back First Team All-ECAC West selection, forward Stephanie Moberg (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Northwood School), who had 18 goals and 21 assists for the Cardinals.  

Finishing in the fourth spot is Neumann University. The Knights wrapped up the 2008-09 season with a 12-6-0 conference mark and an 16-11-0 overall record. The Knights will bring back last season's ECAC Women's West Rookie of the Year,  foward Jasper Thomson (Wasaga Beach, Ontario/Toronto Jr. Aeros). Thomson led the league in freshman scoring with 19, tallying seven goals and 12 assists.

Utica College was voted into the fifth spot. The Pioneers had a conference record of 10-7-1, going 14-10-2 overall. Voted into the sixth spot was Oswego.  The Lakers skated to a 5-12-1 conference record (8-16-1 overall).

The seventh spot belongs to the Cougars of Chatham who skated to a 4-14-0 league (4-19-1 overall) record last year. The Bears of Potsdam State (SUNY) take the eighth spot after they skated to a 3-13-2 (4-17-2 overall) record in their first year of ECAC Women's West play.

Rounding out the 2009-10 ECAC Women's West Preseason Poll are the the Red Dragons of Cortland State, and the Bengals of Buffalo State who finished ninth and tenth in the poll respectively.

The ECAC Women's West Hockey League will be settled on the ice starting November 6 at 7 p.m. when RIT travels to Neumann, Chatham takes on Cortland and Buffalo State travels to Elmira to take on the league's defending champions.