Seahawk News
For immediate release
August 21, 2009
Contact: Pete DiVito, 401-341-2461
Seahawks Picked Third in Preseason Coaches Poll
NEWPORT, R.I. - The Salve Regina University football team was picked third in the Boyd Division in the 2009 New England Football Conference (NEFC) Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Seahawks return 19 starters from last season's squad which posted a 4-5 mark (3-4 NEFC), including All-NEFC selections Brian Bernarducci (LB), Andrew Gould (OL), Ben Hall (WR), Brian Kirkland (OL), Rob LaRiviere-Tougas (RB), Nolan McGarrity (LB), and Zach Szymanski (DB).
"Each year, we have taken big strides in developing a successful college football program," said Salve Regina head coach Chris Robertson. "We are closer than ever to having the right combination of talent, experience, and numbers on our roster. I think that other coaches see that and respect that growth. With that said, our goal has always been an NEFC championship, and we'll prepare our team for nothing less than that."
Curry was picked to win the Boyd Division and also receive the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The Colonals received six of the eight first-place votes after finishing second with a 10-2 (6-1 NEFC) mark last season. Plymouth State (10-2, 7-0 NEFC) - which won the division last year - received the other two first-place votes and was picked second, followed by the Seahawks in third place, Endicott in fourth place (3-7, 2-5 NEFC), UMass-Dartmouth (6-4, 4-3 NEFC) in fifth place, MIT (5-5, 3-4 NEFC) in sixth place, Nichols (2-8, 0-7 NEFC) in seventh place, and Western New England (2-8, 0-7 NEFC) in eighth place.
On the other side, Bridgewater State (7-3, 6-1 NEFC) was picked to win the Bogan Division, receiving five first-place votes. Defending Bogan Division champion Maine Maritime (7-4, 6-1 NEFC) received the other three first-place votes and was picked second while Westfield State (6-4, 4-3 NEFC) was picked third. U.S. Coast Guard Academy (3-6, 3-4 NEFC) was picked fourth, Fitchburg State (4-6, 4-3 NEFC) and Worcester State (2-8, 2-5 NEFC) tied for fifth, Framingham State (5-5, 3-4 NEFC) was picked seventh, and Massachusetts Maritime Academy (0-10, 0-7 NEFC) was picked eighth.
Overall, Curry received nine votes to win the conference championship, followed by Plymouth State with two votes and both Maine Maritime and Bridgewater State each receiving one vote. Three of the 16 coaches abstained from the voting for an overall champion.
The Seahawks open the 2009 season at WPI on Saturday, September 5 at 7 p.m.
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