Seahawks ready to compete in multi-division conference
DANBURY, Conn. – The Salve Regina University women's ice hockey team has been selected to finish seventh in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Women's East pre-season coaches' poll. A year removed from a trip to the 2014 NCAA Division III Women's Frozen Four, the Norwich University Cadets are tabbed as favorites to take home the 2014-15 ECAC Women's East regular season title.
| 2014 ECAC East Womens's Ice Hockey Pre-season Coaches' Poll | ||
| RK | TEAM | PTS |
| 1 | Norwich | 195 (13) |
| 2 | St. Anselm | 172 (1) |
| 3 | Holy Cross | 151 |
| 4 | Castleton | 149 |
| 5 | Manhattanville | 130 |
| 6 | UMass Boston | 129 |
| 7 | Salve Regina | 127 |
| 8 | Southern Maine | 91 |
| 9 | U. of New England | 76 |
| 10 | Plymouth | 71 |
| 11 | Franklin Pierce | 69 |
| 12 | New England | 46 |
| 13 | Nichols | 33 |
| 14 | St. Michaels | 31 |
Salve Regina will welcome Beth McCann as the programs fourth head coach, taking over for a team that went 16-7-4 in 2013-14. It was the teams best record since 2008-09 when the Seahawks went 18-9-1 and came up just short in the ECAC championship game versus Norwich.
The Seahawks return their top five scorers from a year ago. Danielle Phalon (Stoneham, Mass.; 11G, 18A), Michaela Chiuccariello (Winchester, Mass.; 15G, 10A), Sarah Markey (Ashland, Mass.; 12G, 13A), Taylor Shepherd (Quincy, Mass.; 10G, 13A), and Amanda Cronin (Medfield, Mass.; 6G, 10A).
Salve Regina opens its regular season at home on Friday November 7, 2014 against Holy Cross at 7:30 p.m.