LOWELL, MA (Aug. 22, 2007) – The UMass Lowell women’s soccer team, which enjoyed its second straight NCAA Tournament appearance last year, was selected to finish fourth in the Northeast-10 Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, released Wednesday.

The ranking is the second high-billing of the year for UML, which is also ranked No. 24 in the National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) Division II Preseason Poll, released last week.

Franklin Pierce (18-3-1, 12-2-0 in the NE-10), topped the poll for the eighth straight year and was followed by last year’s regular season champion Saint Rose (17-3-1, 12-1-1) and Merrimack (13-5-1, 9-4-1). Bryant came in fifth place while Saint Anselm (10-7-3, 6-5-3), Assumption (5-7-4, 4-6-4) and Stonehill (6-6-4, 5-5-4) rounded out the top eight.

The River Hawks, who finished in third place last year with a 10-3-1 conference record, have exceeded their NE-10 preseason poll billing each of the last three years. In the 2004 season, UML was predicted to finish 14th, but came in eighth.

Similarly in 2005, UML was slated to place ninth and finished in a tie for third. Last year, the River Hawks were picked to finish sixth and snatched third again.

“We are hoping that trend continues this season,” quipped UML Head Coach Elie Monteiro, in his sixth year. “The Northeast-10 is a very difficult conference and we graduated some key players from last season. But I think we have a team capable of finishing in the forefront of the league.”

UML returns seven starters and 13 veterans from the 2006 squad, including NE-10 all-stars Tanekar Alexander (West Warwick, RI), a senior forward, and Jamie Gillis (North Billerica, MA), a sophomore goalkeeper.

Alexander led UML with seven goals last year, including six over UML’s final 10 matches. Gillis, who posted a school record 0.85 goals against average, also set school records for shutouts in a season (eight) and a career (eight).

Also back are junior midfielder Grace Larsen (Newburyport, MA), a starter the last two years, and senior defender Katelyn Campopiano (Chelmsford, MA), a three-year starter.

UML opens the season this weekend at the Holy Family Classic, meeting Philadelphia University Friday (3:00) and the hosts Saturday (12:00). Over Labor Day weekend, UML enters the Southern New Hampshire Classic, facing Bridgeport (2:00) Sept. 1 and New Haven (12:00) Sept. 3.

After it’s NE-10 opener at Merrimack on Sept. 5 (4:00), UML opens at home on Sunday, Sept. 9 (12:00) against American International.