RELEASE DATE: 8/21/08

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mansfield picked to finish third in PSAC field hockey coaches preseason poll

MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University field hockey team was picked third in the PSAC West in the PSAC Field Hockey Coaches Preseason Poll released today.

For the first time in PSAC history, field hockey will be divided into two divisions in 2008 with Mansfield competing in the PSAC West along with IUP, Mercyhurst, Shippensburg and Slippery Rock.

The PSAC East will consist of Bloomsburg, C.W. Post, East Stroudsburg, Kutztown and Millersville.

The top two teams for each division will advance to the PSAC Championship Tournament.

Bloomsburg, the defending National Champion, and IUP, the defending PSAC Champion, have been projected to finish first in the PSAC East and West respectively.

Shippensburg is picked second in the PSAC West followed by Mansfield, Mercyhurst and Slippery Rock.

Mansfield was ranked #10 in the nation in the final NCAA Division II poll last year after posting a 11-7 overall record. The Mountaineers finished for a tie for fourth in conference play but missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker.

Mansfield host Houghton in a scrimmage Friday at 1 p.m. The Mountaineers open the regular season at Southern Connecticut on Aug. 29.

Western Division

1. IUP (4)

2. Shippensburg (1)

3. Mansfield

4. Mercyhurst

5. Slippery Rock

Eastern Division

1. Bloomsburg (5)

2. Kutztown

3. C.W. Post

4. East Stroudsburg

5. Millersville