NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. - Eastern Connecticut State University has been predicted to win the program's third straight Little East Conference women's lacrosse regular season championship after each of the conference's seven coaches casted their vote in the annual preseason poll. The Warriors sit atop the coaches' survey for the third time in the eight years the Little East has sponsored a preseason poll, earning top honors in 2003 and 2008.

Eastern Connecticut received six of the seven first place votes and 55 total points to pace the conference contingent. Keene State College received the other remaining first place tally and 48 points, outscoring the University of Southern Maine (40) for second place.

Under the direction of head coach Christine Hutchison, Eastern Connecticut has swept the conference circuit the past two seasons en route to capturing the Little East Championship Tournament and earning spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament field. Last year, the Warriors posted the program's fifth 10-win season in the past eight years with an overall record of 11-7, including a 6-0 mark in the league. Eastern Connecticut fell in the first round of the national tournament at Colby College. Hutchison will welcome back 12 players, including four starters from last season's club. In 2008, the Warriors boasted the conference's second-ranked offense, averaging 18.39 points per game. Brooke Wayte (Bellport, N.Y.) and Taylor MacDonald (Oak Bluffs, Mass.) each reached the 40-point milestone with 41 (32-9) and 40 (21-19) points, respectively.

The Owls debut at No. 2 in the annual preseason rankings for the second time in Keene State history (2005) after returning four members of the 2008 Little East All-Conference teams. First-year head coach Katie Arsenault inherits a club that matched the program's single-season wins record, sporting a 13-8 mark (4-2 LEC). Last spring, the Owls led the Little East offensively in goals (15.14), assists (7.48), points (22.62), and draw controls (14.76). Jill Kirk (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) spearheaded the attack with 72 points (58-14), while Jenny Lillis (West Islip, N.Y.) and Dene Tully (Peabody, Mass.) also collected at least 30 points.

The Huskies enjoyed the program's most successful season last spring in terms of overall wins (8) and conference victories (5), while also making the program's first appearance in the Little East Conference Championship game. First-year head coach Lauren Reid will look to build on last year's momentum as she welcomes back four 30-point scorers. Jessica Knight (Alfred, Maine) paced the Southern Maine attack with 54 points, on 46 markers and eight helpers, while Kristy Kendrick (Waterboro, Maine), the 2008 Little East Rookie of the year, completed the campaign one-point shy of 40.

Completing the Little East women's lacrosse preseason poll in projected order of finish in the final regular season standings are the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (34), Plymouth State University (36), Western Connecticut State University (20) and Rhode Island College (20).

The Little East Conference sponsors a six-game conference schedule with each team playing each other once. The top-six teams in the final regular season standings advance to the 2009 Little East Women's Lacrosse Championship Tournament. The conference champion will be crowned on Saturday, May 2 and earn the automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament.