The Skyline Conference released the Preseason Spring Coaches' Polls on Wednesday, March 7th. Men's Lacrosse received a fourth place ranking, while baseball was picked to finish fifth and softball and women's lacrosse hold a sixth place ranking. The polls will give the Rams something to focus on as they start their spring seasons, as many of the teams look to show the conference where they should really stand in the rankings. Spring reporting starts next week on Monday, March 12th when the Conference announces the Player and Rookie of the Week in each sport and also releases the overall statistics for the first time this season.
MONTCLAIR STATE SELECTED AS SKYLINE CONFERENCE PRESEASON FAVORITE IN WOMEN'S LACROSSE
Defending champion Red Hawks are unanimous favorites to repeat-
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LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – After rolling to the Skyline Conference and ECAC Upstate Women's Lacrosse Championships last year, Montclair State is a unanimous selection to capture the conference title again in 2007. The Red Hawks, who earned six first-place votes and 36 points, look to improve upon last season's 15-3 overall record.
With a lineup consisting of seven seniors and eight juniors, Montclair State has its sights set on a possible NCAA Tournament bid. The Red Hawks have tough games against Dickinson, McDaniel, Rowan and defending national champion The College of New Jersey outside of Skyline play as they look to elevate their level of play. Montclair State had eight players earn All-Skyline honors last season. Senior midfielder Shauna Brocklebank, who led the Red Hawks with 49 goals last season, is the reigning Skyline Conference Player of the Year. Senior Brianna Gillin, the Skyline Tournament MVP, led the team with 79 points despite missing four games. Seniors Patti Flanagan and Kristin Kuhmann anchor a strong defense. Montclair State also returns its top seven scorers, all of whom had at least 23 goals a year ago.
Stevens Institute of Technology, which was picked second, had captured three straight conference titles prior to last season. The Ducks welcome back their four of their top five scorers as they look to rebound from last season's 5-11 record. Junior attack Liz Mather, sophomore defender Cassidy Callahan and junior goalie Stephanie Linder were First-Team All-Skyline selections a year ago. Stevens also has eight freshmen that will push for immediate playing time.
Manhattanville, picked third, was a surprise team last season, advancing to the Skyline Conference championship game. The Valiants earned the No. 2 seed in the Skyline tournament after finishing with a 4-2 conference record. Manhattanville possesses two of the top scorers in the conference in junior Cory Alcorn and sophomore Abbe Grimes. Both players earned First Team All-Skyline honors last season.
Mount Saint Vincent (21), Kean (16) and Farmingdale State (13) were picked fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
SKYLINE CONFERENCE WOMEN'S LACROSSE
PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. Montclair State (6), 36
2. Stevens (1), 31
3. Manhattanville, 24
4. Mount Saint Vincent, 21
5. Kean, 16
6. Farmingdale State, 13
7. Centenary, 6
(first-place votes in parentheses)
MANHATTANVILLE SELECTED AS SKYLINE CONFERENCE PRESEASON FAVORITE IN SOFTBALL
Valiants edge defending champion St. Joseph's in close vote-
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – With a vote that was a close as last season's Skyline Conference Tournament, Manhattanville College earned a slight edge over defending champion St. Joseph's College in the Skyline Conference preseason softball coaches' poll. The Valiants, who haven't lost a Skyline Conference regular-season game over the last two years, earned four first-place votes and 60 points. St. Joseph's, which defeated Manhattanville twice in the Skyline Tournament and captured the conference's NCAA bid last season, received three first-place votes and 59 points.
Manhattanville, which earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament last year, returns eight All-Skyline performers from last season, led by senior catcher Michele Ribeiro. Ribeiro led the conference in doubles, home runs, runs batted in and runs scored last season. Senior pitcher Maggie Thomas, also a first-team All-Skyline selection, led the conference in both wins and innings pitched. Amanda Buonomo, Caitlyn Conklin, Amanda Nonis, Nicole Oliva and Trina Ramsdell also earned First Team All-Skyline honors last season.
St. Joseph's College rode the pitching of senior Jennifer Martinez to the NCAA Tournament last year. One of the top pitchers in the nation, Martinez was selected as the Skyline Conference Pitcher of the Year and Tournament MVP after leading Division III in strikeouts per game. Martinez, who went 17-6 with a 0.34 ERA, struck out 315 batters in 145.1 innings – an average of 15.2 per game. Juniors Michelle Nardella and Kaitlin Schamberger also earned Second Team All-Skyline honors last season.
The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (52) was picked a strong third with two first-place votes while Centenary and Mount Saint Mary tied for fourth with 38 points. Centenary junior Jessa Jones, a First-Team All-Skyline selection last season, is one of the top offensive players in the conference.
SKYLINE CONFERENCE SOFTBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. Manhattanville (4), 60
2. St. Joseph's (3), 59
3. Merchant Marine (2), 52
4t. Centenary, 38
4t. Mount Saint Mary, 38
6. Farmingdale State, 29
7. Old Westbury, 21
8. Mount Saint Vincent, 18
9. Maritime, 9
(first-place votes in parentheses)
STEVENS SELECTED AS SKYLINE CONFERENCE PRESEASON FAVORITE IN MEN'S LACROSSE
Ducks are unanimous favorites in inaugural season of Skyline Men's Lacrosse-
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – After winning six straight Knickerbocker Lacrosse Conference titles, the Stevens Institute of Technology men's lacrosse team was a unanimous choice to win the inaugural Skyline Conference Men's Lacrosse Championship.
The single-sport Knickerbocker Lacrosse Conference disbanded after the 2006 season as the competing teams in the league merged into the multi-sport Skyline Conference. Stevens, currently ranked eighth in the USILA coaches poll, returns its entire starting lineup from last year's squad that led the nation in scoring at 15.67 goals per game. The Ducks are paced by senior midfielder Mark Bielicky, a two-time All-American and last year's Knickerbocker Player of the Year. With 11 seniors, Stevens has experience at nearly every position as it seeks the Skyline Conference's inaugural championship and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, picked second in the preseason poll, has been one of Stevens' biggest challengers in conference play. The Mariners dropped a tough 7-3 decision to the Ducks in their regular-season meeting last year and earned a rematch in the conference championship game. Senior attack Sean Dougherty, senior goalie John Pagano and sophomore defenseman Mike Condron – first-team all-conference selections a year ago – anchor a veteran lineup.
Montclair State has been a fixture in the conference tournament during the past few years. The Red Hawks made an appearance in the Knickerbocker championship game in 2004 and have also captured three of the last four ECAC Metro titles. Montclair State welcomes back its top three goal scorers from last season in junior Bryan Klimchak (64), sophomore A.J. Bachman (35) and senior Evan Wehmeyer (21).
Farmingdale State (51), Richard Stockton (48) and Kean (45) were separated by just six votes for fourth, fifth and sixth.
SKYLINE CONFERENCE MEN'S LACROSSE PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. Stevens (9), 81
2. Merchant Marine (1), 73
3. Montclair State, 63
4. Farmingdale State, 51
5. Richard Stockton, 48
6. Kean, 45
7. Maritime, 34
8. Centenary, 26
9. Manhattanville, 19
10. Mount Saint Vincent, 10
(first-place votes in parentheses)
STEVENS SELECTED AS SKYLINE CONFERENCE PRESEASON FAVORITE IN BASEBALL
Ducks edge defending champion Centenary in close vote-
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – After setting the school record for wins in a season with a 27-12 mark in 2006, the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team has been selected as the Skyline Conference preseason favorite in baseball. The Ducks received four first-place votes and 72 points, finishing one point ahead of two-time defending champion Centenary. The Cyclones received three first-place votes and 71 points.
Stevens returns five All-Skyline Conference players from last season's team that finished in a three-way tie for second with a 13-5 record in conference play. Led by senior shortstop/pitcher Adam Sandt, the Ducks return all five starting infielders and one outfielder from last season. Junior right-hander Scott Picerno, a two-time All-Skyline Conference selection, anchors a solid pitching staff.
Centenary, which went 29-13 overall and a conference best 14-4 last season, will be seeking its third straight Skyline title. The Cyclones will be led by sophomore left-hander Andrew Koncen, last season's unanimous choice for Skyline Conference Pitcher and Rookie of the Year. Koncen, who went 9-2 with a 2.22 ERA as a freshman, also logged 15 innings in the Skyline Conference Tournament, earning MVP honors. Senior first baseman Pat Cassidy and junior right-hander Chris Mattson were second-team All-Skyline selections last year.
The next three teams were separated by a total of four votes. St. Joseph's College (61) returns four all-conference players in pitcher Frank D'Aversa, shortstop Joe Dellauniversita, third baseman Edwin Delgado and catcher Tyler Ruthizer. Manhattanville (60), which had a strong group of newcomers last season, is led by senior outfielder/pitcher Mark Barrar and junior infielder Tom Verrengia. Farmingdale State (57), led by second-year head coach and former Major League veteran Keith Osik, has a deep roster and will also look to contend for a Skyline Conference tournament berth this season.
SKYLINE CONFERENCE BASEBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. Stevens (4), 72
2. Centenary (3), 71
3. St. Joseph's, 61
4. Manhattanville (2), 60
5. Farmingdale State, 57
6. Old Westbury, 42
7. Mount Saint Vincent, 31
8. Merchant Marine, 25
9. Mount Saint Mary, 22
10. Maritime, 9
(first-place votes in parentheses)