Following its first undefeated regular season since 2002, the No. 12/22 LIU Post football team was predicted to finish second in the Northeast-10 Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced earlier this month.

Assumption led the way with 78 points. The Greyhounds picked up six of the league's 10 first-place votes. The Pioneers were a close second with 76 points and four first-place votes. Southern Connecticut State, New Haven and Bentley round out the top five.

The Pioneers, who finished second in the Lambert Cup standings in 2016, set a new single-season record for wins last year with a 12-1 record and captured their second Northeast-10 Conference title in three years.

The green and gold also advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Championship for the first time in over a decade.

This past offseason, senior offensive lineman Joseph Lacey was named to the Lindy Sports Preseason All-Division II Second Team.

Last year, Lacey started all 13 games for the Pioneers at left tackle and protected the blind side of Jeff Kidd, who went on to garner Northeast-10 Conference Most Valuable Player honors.

He also paved the way for an offense that led the league in rushing yards (2,512), rushing touchdowns (30), passing yards (3,111), passing touchdowns (30) and third-down conversion percentage (.492).

Head Coach Bryan Collins and his LIU Post squad kick off the 2017 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 2 against Virginia Union University at 1 p.m. at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium in Brookville, N.Y.

2017 Northeast-10 Conference Preseason Poll

School                          Pts.

1. Assumption (6)         78

2. LIU Post (4)              76

3. Southern Conn. St.    60

4. New Haven               55

5. Bentley                      42

6. Stonehill                    39

7. American Int'l.          37

8. Merrimack                34

9. St. Anselm                18

10. Pace                        11

( ) - first place votes