Women’s Hockey picked ninth in NCHA preseason poll

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association announced its 2011-12 women's hockey preseason coaches' poll and Concordia University Wisconsin was selected to finish ninth overall. Defending regular season champion UW-River Falls was selected as the league favorite after it received 10-of-11 first place votes.

The Falcons have high expectations for the 2011-12 season after advancing to the NCHA semifinals last season, the farthest in their short history. CUW has steadily improved during its first your years as a program with the win total increasing each season. The Falcons concluded last year with a 13-11-4 overall record and 10-6-4 in conference play.

Junior Samantha Meuwissen (Chanhassen, Minn.) returns as the Falcons only NCHA All-Conference player from a season ago after she finished second on the team with 26 points - 11 goals and 15 assists. Junior Sara Cole (Plymouth, Minn.) returns as a NCHA All-Academic honoree. Last season she recorded seven points - three goals and four assists - as a defenseman.

CUW's season begins with a NCHA matchup against Marian University on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Ozaukee Ice Center.

The Falcons earned 68 points from the league's coaches. UW-Superior received one first-place vote and 162 points overalls to finish second. Adrian College was selected third with 150 points, while St. Norbert College (136) and UW-Stevens Point (98) rounded out the top five.

2011-12 Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Preseason Coaches' Poll
1 UW-River Falls (10) - 190
2 UW-Superior (1) - 162
3 Adrian College - 150
4 St. Norbert College - 136
5 UW-Stevens Point - 98
6 Lake Forest College - 96
7 UW-Eau Claire - 88
8 St. Scholastica College - 74
9 Concordia University Wisconsin - 68
10 Finlandia University - 22
11 Marian University - 16