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Central Islip, N.Y. - The Defending NCAA and ECC Champion Pioneers of LIU/C.W. Post have been chosen as preseason favorites in the East Coast Conference women's lacrosse poll as voted upon by the conference coaches.

The Pioneers, coached by Meghan McNamara, posted a perfect 17-0 season in 2007 including a 5-0 ECC mark to capture the ECC title. The Pioneers topped Stonehill College in the NCAA national semifinals and went on to defeat West Chester for the title.

C.W. Post earned 48 points including six first place votes edging second place Adelphi which garnered 43 points including the sole remaining first place vote.

The remainder of the field included a tie for third between the University of New Haven and Philadelphia University (28), Molloy College (26), St. Thomas Aquinas College (16) and Dowling College (7).

Dowling will be fielding a varsity program for the first time in 2008.

Adelphi junior attack Rachel Ray was the coaches' pick as preseason Player of the Year. Ray, a First Team ECC selection last year, notched 40 goals and 33 assists for 73 points and added 45 groundballs and went on to earn IWLCA All American accolades.

Joining Ray on the preseason all conference first team was fellow Adelphi teammate Aly Tumulty; Jackie Napoli, Mallory Poole, Katie Hogan, Lauren Scipione and Kimberly Williams of C.W. Post; Rebecca LaFlare and Kelly LaClair of Molloy, Brigid Brady and Ashley Griffin of New Haven; Jessica Snyder of Philadelphia; and Kimberly DeLorenzo of St. Thomas Aquinas.

A list of the team poll and all conference teams follow. 2008 ECC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll

(First place votes in parentheses)

Lauren Scipione              Sr.     GK    C.W. Post                  East Meadow, N.Y.

Preseason Player of the Year: Rachel Ray, Adelphi

(1) First Team 2007
(2) Second Team 2007
(R) Rookie of the Year, 2007