SAINT ANSELM PICKED AS PRESEASON FAVORITE

WINTHROP, Mass. - Defending New England Women’s Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) Champion Saint Anselm College has been tabbed by the league’s coaches as the preseason favorite to repeat as 2020 champions.

The Hawks, who collected five first place votes, finished 25-3-1 overall a season ago and went an unblemished 15-0-1 in league play. They posted back-to-back shutouts in the league’s championship tournament to secure their first NEWHA title in February.

Last season’s second place finisher from the regular season, Sacred Heart University (20-8-4, 9-4-3 NEWHA), collected the remaining first place vote and was picked to finish second, four points behind Saint Anselm.

Tournament runner-up Franklin Pierce was picked third, one point in front of league newcomer Long Island University. Saint Michael’s College collected eight points, one in front of Post University, who was picked sixth.

Now in its third year, the NEWHA is a group of comprised of NCAA Division I and II institutions competing at the National Collegiate (Division I) level. Members include Franklin Pierce University (N.H.), Long Island University (N.Y.), Post University (Conn.), Sacred Heart University (Conn.), Saint Anselm College (N.H.), and Saint Michael’s College (Vt.).

The 2019-20 NEWHA season kicks off on Sunday, Sept. 29 when Franklin Pierce takes on the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. For the full slate of league games, visit https://newha.prestosports.com/composite.