Elmira and Manhattanville, No. 1 and 2 in the USCHO Division III Women’s Poll this week, were picked by ECAC East and West coaches to capture their respective league titles this winter.
Last season, Elmira won the NCAA Division III title with a 5-1 win over Manhattanville in the championship game. It was the second straight season that the two teams had met for the title, and also the second straight time the Soaring Eagles had claimed the top honor.
Manhattanville was the clear favorite in the ECAC East, receiving nine of 10 first-place votes, with the other vote going to Rensselaer. But in the West, coaches see another close battle between the Soaring Eagles and Plattsburgh, with the two teams garnering four and three first-place votes respectively.
The ECAC East drops to an even 10 teams this season with the departure of Union for Division I.
ECAC Women’s East Preseason Poll
1) Manhattanville (9) – 81
2) Rensselaer (1) – 73
3) Holy Cross – 61
4) R.I.T. – 56
5) Southern Maine – 54
6) New England Coll. – 35
7) Mass.-Boston – 31
8) St. Michael’s – 28
9) Salve Regina – 19
10) M.I.T. – 12
ECAC Women’s West Preseason Poll
1) Elmira (4) – 34
2) Plattsburgh (3) – 33
3) Utica – 25
4) Neumann – 18
5) Buffalo State – 16
6) Cortland – 15
7) Chatham – 6
