Mountain Hawks nab top spot in preseason poll

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After winning 14 games and earning a share of the Patriot League regular season championship for the first time in school history, Lehigh was picked to win the 2006 Patriot League title as the league announced its preseason poll Thursday afternoon. The Mountain Hawks garnered 89 points and eight of a possible 16 first place votes to claim the top spot, two points better than regular season co-champion Colgate.

The Mountain Hawks return nine starters and 17 letterwinners from the 2005 squad that posted a 14-2-2 record, with 13 shutouts that was the top seed in the Patriot League Tournament. Lehigh returns six All-Patriot League performers, including the league’s Offensive Player of the Year, senior Gina Lewandowski; the Defensive Player of the Year, junior Michaela Pawlewicz; and the Co-Rookie and Co-Goalkeeper of the year, sophomore Julie Kafka. The Brown and White have qualified for the Patriot League Tournament three times in school history, including each of the last two seasons.

Colgate was voted second in the poll, with 87 points and seven first place votes. Navy captured the remaining first place vote and was selected to finish third. Defending tournament champion Bucknell was picked fourth, followed by Army, American, Holy Cross and Lafayette.

Lehigh will open its 2006 season on Friday night when the Red Foxes of Marist visit the Ulrich Sports Complex. Game time is set for 7:00 pm with audio and video coverage online at lehighsports.com with streaming provided by Yahoo! Sports.

2006 Patriot League Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll

Team (# First Place Votes) Points

1. LEHIGH (8) 89

2. Colgate (7) 87

3. Navy (1) 69

4. Bucknell 68

5. Army 52

6. American 41
7. Holy Cross 22

8. Lafayette 20

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Mountain Hawks nab top spot in preseason poll

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