WESTON, Mass. – The defending New England Collegiate Conference champion Regis College field hockey team has been selected as the preseason favorite according to the 2015 NECC Field Hockey Coaches Poll. The Pride received three first place votes in a poll conducted by league head coaches.

The Crimson and Gold are trying to head back to the conference championship for the fourth time in the past five seasons. Last year, the Pride won their second NECC title as they defeated Elms 2-1 in penalty strokes and qualified for the programs first ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Regis is returning 10 players from last season's championship squad including All-NECC selections Jenna Casello (Westborough, Mass.) and Raegan Heck (Phillipston, Mass.).

Rounding out the preseason polls was Elms, who received one first place vote, Becker who received two first place votes, Wheelock, Bay Path and Daniel Webster.

2015 NECC Field Hockey Preseason Poll

Team                           Points (First Place Votes)

1. Regis                                       31 (3)

2. Elms                                        29 (1)

3. Becker                                     28 (2)

4. Wheelock                                20

5. Bay Path                                 12

6. Daniel Webster                        6