SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) released their field hockey preseason poll Tuesday morning and Endicott has been selected as the favorite with 46 points. The University of New England placed second after earning the last two first place votes and a total of 42 points. Nichols College, the 2012 runner-up, claimed third with 38 points, while Gordon College was selected fourth after receiving 25 points to round out the top billing.

Voting for the preseason poll was conducted among the league's head field hockey coaches.

The Gulls are coming off an impressive 2012 season closing with a 15-5 overall record while going 9-1 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) and adding another title to the championship banner.

For the 2013 season Endicott will welcome back six seniors and seven juniors. Despite losing five seniors that contributed to a thrilling CCC championship overtime win over Nichols and a trip to Utica, N.Y. for the NCAA tourney, Coach Cipolla will create a strong lineup.

Coach Cipolla is hoping that the team's ability to show true camaraderie and teamwork will be the winning ticket for the Gulls.

"I think that one of the reasons we have been so successful is because of our teamwork, when someone is struggling on the field our team works together to get back on track" said Cipolla, who brought the field hockey program their first ever conference championship title in 2011. "We have been lucky to be able to rely on people stepping up when we need it. Last year Kathryn Walker only scored five goals, however two of them were in the playoffs when we needed it the most.  Having multiple scoring threats balanced by a solid defensive unit will make us very dangerous."

The Gulls who led the conference in goals last season (68) will have depth in the offensive circle by juniors Emily Sawchuck (Cumberland, Maine) who netted 11 goals last year and led the team in assists (7), Kathryn Walker (Middlebury, Conn.) who found the back of the net five times and Mackenzie Hurst (Gilford, N.H.) who tallied four points last season.  Their strength in the circle will be sure to give them a scoring punch.

Also looking to help with the offensive push will be senior Beth Farr (Rindge, N.H.) and sophomore Morgan Bresnahan (South Burlington, V.t.) who each tallied a goal last season. Co-Captain senior Amanda Glynn (Hampton, N.H.) will also be moving up to the offensive line from defense to add some tallies in the goals column for the Gulls.

Taking charge between the posts for the Gulls will be senior goalkeeper Lizetta Solarik (Carmel, N.Y.) and sophomore Rose Bradley (Pottsdown, Pa.) who will be battling for minutes. They each saw time in 2012 and recorded a .667 save percentage a piece.

In front of the goalkeepers will be a strong experienced defensive line comprised of Co-Captain senior Emily O'Halloran (Cheshire, Conn.), senior Robin Hunt (Hampton, N.H.) and junior Alyssa Clark (Gorham, Maine). Clark is coming off a great season where she started in all 20 games for the Gulls in 2012 and assisted on offensive corners for her ability to pound the ball into the back of the net, tallying four points last season. O'Halloran will be critical in the back for her ability to direct traffic and Hunt poses a strong stick on the line where she recorded a team high two defensive saves.

Hoping to feed the ball into the circle and support the attack will be Co-Captains senior Stacie Teevens (Westborough, Mass.) (4) and junior Meghan Leary (Hampton Falls, N.H.) (3). Leary will take hold of the reins in the midfield coming off a second consecutive First Team All-Conference accolade and First Team All-Region recognition. The midfield is set to be quick and experienced. Teevens who earned a CCC Second Team All-Conference nod is known for her ability to move the ball up the field quickly and force offensive corners.

Defense and the midfield will possess great versatility, juniors Liz LeClair (Wilton, Maine) and Jess Linden (Stratford, Conn.) (Second Team All-Conference) will come in handy. Their ability to play multiple positions and their speed will give an edge for the Gulls in transition.

The Gulls will again play one of the toughest strength of schedules in New England, starting off with their home opener against Babson on August 30^th. They will also come across MIT who hit the national rankings last year, UMass Dartmouth and North Shore rival Salem State who upset the Gulls last year in another overtime thriller.

The Gulls will be tested in the CCC, where every team will be gunning to take them down as the title holders for the second straight year. Endicott will face each team twice and will battle with the University of New England who gave the Gulls their only conference loss last season, and Nichols who the Gulls edged in another OT thriller CCC championship match in 2012. They will also look to face cross town rival Gordon College who almost gave Endicott an upset in the semi-final match in OT last year.

Cipolla also discussed what she expects from this 2013 flock of Gulls.  "My goal for this team is to continually get better as the season progresses so we are playing our best field hockey at the end of the season."

In terms of the big target of their back Cipolla is confident it will only make the team stronger, "Being the top target of our conference opponents is exactly what we want.  It is a standard that we will continue to work for and will make us an even stronger team down the line.  We have to step on the field ready to be challenged each and every day."