Mansfield, Mass. - After taking home the 2022 NE10 crown, the Adelphi University field hockey team has been selected to finish third in the conference by the league's 14 head coaches, in a release from the NE10 on Wednesday.

The 'Cats finished in a tie for third with nearby Pace University, earning two first-place votes to Pace's four.

With Kaylee Deleva now on the sidelines as an assistant coach, the attention turns to returning NE10 Second Team All-Conference player Amanda Lee. Second-year head coach Jess Mulhern also welcomes in a pair of transfers from St. Thomas Aquinas in Hailey Galison and Kelly Johnson.

Lee's impact on the team came at a crucial time last season, as the forward tallied most of her points during Adelphi's stretch of nine wins in 11 games. It included her second career hat trick at Franklin Pierce and the assist on Deleva's winning goal at Saint Anselm in double overtime that sent the 'Cats to the NE10 Championship.

With their sights set on a repeat, the Panthers also return key scorers in Emiline Biggin, Ali Nagy, Jillian Riche, and NE10 All-Championship defender Kylie Peregoy. Peregoy captured NFHCA Defensive Player and NE10 Player of the Week honors multiple times, while Biggin and Nagy were named NE10 Player and Rookie of the Week on separate occasions.

Adelphi trailed both Saint Anselm (153 points) and Assumption (157 points), with all three programs along with Pace getting first-place votes during the balloting process. Assumption earned five first-place votes to take the top spot.

The Panthers will look to spread around the wealth again in 2023, with 14 players finding their way in the goal column last season -- which bolstered the 'Cats to an NE10-leading 67 goals.

The Brown and Gold's new look debuts on the Island on Thursday, Aug. 31, when they travel to Seaford, N.Y. to take on Molloy University at 7 p.m. at Cedar Creek Park.

2023 NE10 Field Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Assumption (Five First-Place Votes) - 157 Points
2. Saint Anselm (Three First-Place Votes) - 153 Points
T-3. Pace (Four First-Place Votes) - 141 Points
T-3. Adelphi (Two First-Place Votes) - 141 Points
5. Bentley - 127 Points
6. New Haven - 105 Points
7. Southern New Hampshire - 95 Points
8. St. Thomas Aquinas - 86 Points
9. Saint Michael's - 66 Points
10. American International - 53 Points
11. Mercy - 51 Points
12. Franklin Pierce - 47 Points
13. Southern Connecticut - 37 Points
14. Molloy - 17 Points