PITTSBURGH, Pa. -The Northeast Conference coaches picked the Robert Morris University women's lacrosse team to finish tied for fourth in the conference's annual preseason poll, released Wednesday.
Robert Morris returns several key players from last season's squad which finished fifth in the conference just one spot away from the conference tournament. Ashley Trombetta (Sykesville, Md. / Century) leads all returners in goals, assists, points and defensive controls. Colleen O'Donnell (Portland, Ore. / St. Mary's Academy) returns following a 2010 campaign in which she netted 19 goals while picking up 21 points. The junior also led the team in ground balls with 33, a season ago. Head coach Katy Phillips will relay on a group of talented young freshman as the Colonial roster welcomes 14 freshmen for the 2011 campaign.
Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart earned the title of co-favorites in the conference as they tied atop the preseason poll. Monmouth came in third but received a majority of the first place votes as 5-of-10 coaches picked the Hawks as the NEC's top team. Mount St. Mary's tied the Colonials for the fourth spot in the preseason vote. Wagner came in sixth, Bryant seventh, Saint Francis (PA) eighth, Long Island ninth and Central Connecticut State 10th.
Robert Morris opens the regular season Feb. 27 against Bucknell in Lewisburg, Pa., the contest is set to start at noon.
