CHANDLER, Ariz. (Aug. 25, 2015) - The LIU Post field hockey team was slotted third in the 2015 Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division II Preseason Poll, announced Tuesday.

The Pioneers, who are coming off back-to-back national runner-up finishes, were one of five squads to receive first-place votes. Defending national champion Millersville was tabbed as the preseason favorite, amassing 226 points and 17 first-place nods. West Chester was a close second with 204 points and three first-place votes.

LIU Post collected 177 points and a pair of first-place votes. The green and gold return reigning Northeast-10 Conference Offensive Player of the Year and NFHCA First Team All-American Keliann Margiotta (Sewell, N.J.). Margiotta led the nation in 2014 in points per game and goals per game, averaging 3.73 and 1.5, respectively. She also placed second in Division II with 0.73 assists per contest.

The Pioneers are slated to face four of the programs ranked in the Top-10 this year. They will square off against No. 5 Stonehill (Sept. 27), No. 6 East Stroudsburg (Oct. 26), No. 7 Adelphi (Oct. 7) and No. 10 Merrimack (Sept. 19).

Head Coach Raenee Savin and her LIU Post squad open the 2015 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 12, when they host Bentley University for a non-conference tilt at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium. The game is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. start.

2015 Penn Monto/NFHCA Division II Preseason Poll
1. Millersville (17 First-Place Votes) - 226 Points
2. West Chester (Three First-Place Votes) - 204 Points
3. LIU Post (Two First-Place Votes) - 177 Points
4. Shippensburg - 168 Points
5. Stonehill (One First-Place Vote) - 131 Points
6. East Stroudsburg - 99 Points
7. Adelphi (One First-Place Vote) - 84 Points
8. Limestone - 60 Points
9. Bloomsburg - 46 Points
10. Merrimack - 32 Points