Contact: Timothy Farrell
Sports Information Director
tfarrell@empire8.com

UTICA PICKED TO CAPTURE FIRST EMPIRE 8 FIELD HOCKEY TITLE
Golden Flyers picked to finish seventh

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (Aug. 16, 2006) – Utica College, which earned a bid to the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship last season, is the unanimous selection by the conference coaches to win its first Empire 8 championship this year. The Pioneers went 3-1 in conference play last year and are seeking the school’s first Empire 8 title in any sport.

This year’s conference play features the addition of two affiliate members, Stevens Institute of Technology and Washington & Jefferson College. This year marks the final season in which the Empire 8 field hockey champion will be determined by round robin play. Next year, the top four teams in regular season play will face off in a postseason conference tournament.

Hartwick College, which has won back-to-back conference titles and three of the four Empire 8 field hockey championships, is the coaches’ choice to finish second this season. The Hawks went 4-0 in conference play last year, including a 3-1 victory over Utica in the final regular season conference game.

Ithaca College, which won the 2003 conference title, was picked to finish third in the preseason poll. The Bombers host Utica and Hartwick in their first two conference games this year. Stevens Institute is picked to finish fourth in its first Empire 8 season. The Ducks finished with a 10-7 record last year, avenging seven losses from their inaugural season in 2004.

Elmira College, Washington & Jefferson, and Nazareth College were picked to finish fifth, sixth, and seventh, respectively, in very close balloting. The Presidents, who achieved a school-record total of eight wins in 2004, will face Stevens Institute in the first Empire 8 game for each school.

2006 Empire 8 Field Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Utica College 36 points
2. Hartwick College 30
3. Ithaca College 25
4. Stevens Institute of Technology 22
5. Elmira College 13
6. Washington & Jefferson College 11
7. Nazareth College 10

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