Aug. 22, 2005

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - The Colgate University field hockey team was picked to finish third in the Patriot League preseason poll, the conference announced on Monday, Aug. 22.

Colgate received 28 points and one first-place vote. American finished first in the voting with 50 points and 10 first-place votes, while Holy Cross was second with 32 points. Lehigh came in fourth with 27 points, including one first-place vote, Bucknell was fifth with 25 points, and Lafayette finished sixth with 18 points.

"Our goal is to make it back to the Patriot League tournament this year," head coach Cathy Foto said. "We're happy to know that the other coaches in the league give us that kind of respect and think that we can accomplish that goal, especially considering our loss of seven seniors to graduation. It's a testament to the kids we have returning and the strength of our program that we got the amount of points that we did."

The poll was voted on by the league's six head coaches and sports information directors. Coaches and SIDs were not permitted to vote for their own team.

The Raiders, who finished second in the league last season with a 3-2 conference record and a 12-8 overall mark, played in the Patriot League championship game for the first time since 1996.

Colgate opens the 2005 season on Saturday, Aug. 27, when it hosts Appalachian State at Tyler's Field at 1:00 p.m.