YORK, Pa. - - Three-time defending CAC champion Salisbury was once again selected as the favorite in a preseason poll among conference coaches. The Sea Gulls were unanimously selected as the preseason favorite with six first-place votes and 36 points in the voting of the seven CAC coaches.

Christopher Newport (28 points, 1 first-place vote) and Mary Washington (28 points) tied for second in the poll, with York (22 points) and St. Mary's (15 points) rounding out the top five. Frostburg State (12 points) and Wesley (6 points) ranked sixth and seventh, respectively, in the preseason voting.

Salisbury tallied its third straight CAC championship in 2015, defeating Mary Washington 2-1 in dramatic fashion in double overtime. The double OT road triumph in the title game was the second in the past three years for the Sea Gulls, who own a conference-best 19 CAC crowns.

Salisbury, Mary Washington, and Christopher Newport each sported strong NCAA resumes last fall, but the Sea Gulls were the only CAC squad to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. After receiving a first-round bye, the Sea Gulls fell to Rochester, 3-2, in the second round.

Some fresh faces will be on the sidelines this fall, as new head coaches are set to take over both St. Mary's and York, squads that have reached the CAC playoffs each of the past two seasons.

Five of the seven CAC squads will advance to the conference playoffs, with the championship game set for Saturday, Nov. 5. Three CAC teams begin their campaigns on Thursday, Sept. 1, with CAC play set to begin in late September.

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2016 CAC Field Hockey Preseason Poll
1. Salisbury (6 first-place votes) 36 points
T2. Christopher Newport (1 first-place vote) 28 points
T2. Mary Washington 28 points
4. York 22 points
5. St. Mary's 15 points
6. Frostburg State 12 points
7. Wesley 6 points