Women's Hockey | 9/19/2012 2:25:00 PM

ROCHESTER, NY - The RIT women's hockey team, which will begin its first season of Division I competition with a home exhibition contest against the Oakville Hornets of the Provincial Women's Hockey League on Sunday at 2 p.m., was selected to finish fourth in the 2012-13 College Hockey America preseason coaches poll, announced by the league on Wednesday afternoon.

Last year's regular season champion, Mercyhurst is the top pick in this year's preseason poll for the 11th straight season. The Lakers collected four (4) first place votes for 33 total points. Mercyhurst took home the regular season crown for the 2011-12 season, but fell in the College Hockey America championship contest to Robert Morris, which is the coaches second place squad with 32 points and two (2) first place votes. Syracuse was chosen third by the coaches garnering 25 points. College Hockey America new comers round out the bottom three spots. RIT finished in fourth with 13 points, Lindenwood comes in fifth with 12 points, and Penn State finished in sixth with 11 points.

RIT returns 19 skaters, including its top 11 scorers and two goaltenders from last season's team that won the 2012 Division III Women's Ice Hockey National Championship, setting a national record with a 28-1-1 mark.

"We are an unknown team, but know we have a lot of work to do to become contenders in this league," said RIT Head Coach Scott McDonald, now entering his seventh season. "It will be exciting to build rivalries with our new league opponents right away."

The 2013 College Hockey America playoffs begin with a best-of-three series for the third through sixth place finishers from March 1-3. The top two teams get a first round bye. The CHA Tournament Semifinals and Championship will be held on March 8-9 at the home of the regular season champion.

RIT plays its first regular season and CHA game as a Division I program on Friday, September 28 at 7:05 p.m. at Ritter Arena against Mercyhurst, ranked No. 10 in the first USCHO.com Women's Division I Hockey poll of the season. The Tigers also host the Lakers the next day at 2 p.m. RIT will play four regular season games (two home, two away) against each CHA foe during the 2012-13 season.


2012-13 College Hockey America Preseason Coaches Poll
1) Mercyhurst (4) - 33 points
2) Robert Morris (2) - 32 points
3) Syracuse - 25 points
4) RIT - 13 points
5) Lindenwood - 12 points
6) Penn State - 11 points