University of Massachusets Athletics
Field Hockey Picked As A-10 Preseason Favorite
August 06, 2010 | Field Hockey
Aug. 6, 2010
AMHERST, Mass. -
The Atlantic 10 Conference announced on Friday that Massachusetts has been selected to win the 2010 A-10 Championship in voting conducted by the league's head coaches. After ending UMass' two-year championship run in 2009, Richmond was picked to finish second with Temple and A-10 newcomer Lock Haven rounding out the top four.
UMass is coming off a 12-9 season, falling to Richmond in overtime in the A-10 semifinals. Head Coach Justine Sowry returns nine starters in 2010, including a strong senior class of defender Jaime Bourazeris, forward Katie Kelly, midfield All-American Makaela Potts. Two-time All-Conference goalie Alesha Widdall also returns as a junior. The Minutewomen welcome 11 new players, 10 freshmen and one junior transfer to offset the loss of seniors Cher King, Jill Powers, and Sarah Williams.
Richmond, who along with UMass have combined to win the last 12 A-10 Championships, enters the 2010 season as the defending conference champs, and though losing a talenting senior class of six including 2009 A-10 Offensive Player of the Year Sarah Blythe-Wood, returns a strong team led by two-time All-Conference forward Katelin Peterson.
2009 runner up Temple was selected to finish third, while new A-10 member Lock Haven, the winner of the Northeast Conference title in five out the last six seasons, was picked fourth. Saint Joseph's was picked fifth, La Salle picked seventh, West Chester, in its last season playing at the Division I level, was selected seventh, and Saint Louis was picked to finish eighth.
The 2010 UMass Minutewomen open the season on Friday, Aug. 27 at 2 p.m. against in-state rival Boston College at Garber Field.
The 2010 Atlantic 10 Championship will be played in Philadelphia on Nov. 5-6 at Temple's Geasey Field.
2010 A-10 Field Hockey Preseason Poll (2009 overall and conference records)
1. Massachusetts (12-9, 3-3)
2. Richmond (14-9, 5-1)
3. Temple (9-12, 4-2)
4. Lock Haven (18-5, 7-1 NEC)
5. Saint Joseph's (7-11, 4-2)
6. La Salle (8-12, 2-4)
7. West Chester (8-10, 3-3)
8. Saint Louis (1-16, 0-6)
