Feb. 15, 2006

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - After winning a Patriot League record 41 games and capturing its second straight league tournament title in 2005, Lehigh was once again picked to top the Patriot League in the preseason poll, announced by the league on Wednesday. The Mountain Hawks garnered 50 points and ten of 12 first place votes in the poll, which is voted upon by the league's coaches and sports information directors.

Eleventh-year head coach Fran Troyan returns a wealth of talent from last year's team which finished with a 41-10 record and advanced to the NCAA Regional in Tucson, Arizona. The Mountain Hawks return four All-League selections in senior Mary Wieder, juniors Heather Hamasaki and Whitney Schenbeck and sophomore Kate Marvel, the 2005 Patriot League Rookie of the Year.

Army finished second in the poll, receiving the other two first place votes. Colgate and Bucknell were picked third and fourth respectively, with Holy Cross and Lafayette tying for fifth.

Lehigh will open the 2006 season on Monday, March 6 when the Mountain Hawks travel to Kissimmee, Florida to play in the week-long Rebel Spring Games. The Mountain Hawks will open up with defending NEC Champion Robert Morris in a game that gets underway at 8:50 am.