GRAND LAKE, Colo. (Feb. 1, 2016) - The Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association released its Division II Preseason Poll Monday, and LIU Post came in at No. 6 on the list.

The Pioneers are scheduled to face six programs ranked in the IWLCA's Preseason Top-20 in the regular season, including three of the top four squads. LIU Post is also one of only two East Coast Conference teams recognized in the initial poll.

Head Coach Meghan McNamara's squad returns nine starters from last year's team. In 2015, LIU Post owned a 15-4 record and won the ECC title, after dispatching Dowling College by a score of 11-6.

Returning All-East Coast Conference second-team honoree Brittany Smith (Dix Hills, N.Y.) leads a defensive unit that held opponents to the fifth-lowest goals-against average (5.58) in Division II last year. Between the pipes, sophomore goalie Olivia Kirk (Farmingdale, N.Y.) boasted the third-best GAA and save percentage in the country as a rookie, with clips of 6.05 and .535, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Pioneers return experience at attack, where 2015 IWLCA All-Americans Emily Delaney (Long Valley, N.J.) and Connor Bird (Syosset, N.Y.) will look to guide the offense. LIU Post's reigning point leader (87), Delaney tallied 34 goals and 53 assists, which were tops in the ECC and seventh-best in Division II, last spring. Bird scored 27 goals and allocated 23 assists for a 50-point output, in addition to winning a conference-best 83 draw controls.

The Pioneers open the 2016 season on Tuesday, Mar. 1, when they host Nyack College in a non-conference tilt at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium in Brookville, N.Y. The opening draw is slated for 3 p.m.

2016 IWLCA Division II Preseason Poll
1. Adelphi (16 First-Place Votes) - 394 Points
2. Le Moyne (Four First-Place Votes) - 377 Points
3. Lindenwood - 360 Points
4. New Haven - 322 Points
5. Florida Southern - 292 Points
T-6. LIU Post - 267 Points
T-6. Rollins - 267 Points
8. Lock Haven - 257 Points
9. Stonehill - 229 Points
10. West Chester - 219 Points
11. Limestone - 213 Points
12. Mount Olive - 168 Points
13. Mercyhurst - 161 Points
14. Seton Hill - 153 Points
15. Grand Valley St. - 144 Points
16. Queens (N.C.) - 111 Points
17. Dowling - 68 Points
18. Bentley - 66 Points
19. Regis (Colo.) - 42 Points
20. Saint Anselm - 33 Points

Also Receiving Votes: Indiana (Pa.), Bloomsburg, Lenoir-Rhyne