NEWTOWN, Pa. – The Wilkes women's ice hockey team was selected first in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) preseason coaches poll, as announced by the conference on Wednesday.

The Colonels earned 49 points with seven first place votes coming off a remarkable season where they won their first MAC championship and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Dave Labaff returns for his 4th year as head coach for Wilkes.

Lebanon Valley College secured the second place spot with 41 points. The Flying Dutchman went 4-15-1 in conference last season, and earned a spot in the MAC Tournament where they fell in the semifinals to Arcadia University.

Arcadia University finished in third place with 38 points, while Alvernia University earned fourth place with 32 points. Neumann College filled out the top five with 20 points. 

Stevenson University (19 points) and Hood College (16 points) earned sixth and seventh place, while King's College (Pa.) finished the poll in eighth place with 9 points. 

The Colonels take the ice for their first game of the season on Friday, Oct. 31, as they travel to Cortland State to face the Red Dragons at 3:00p.m.