ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth's women's softball team has been picked to finish fourth in the Empire 8 Conference standings for 2010, according to a pre-season poll conducted by the league's eight head coaches.

Nazareth, guided by fourth-year coach Jack Carpenter, finished 17-17 overall in 2009, but missed the E8 Conference playoffs with a 4-8 league mark.

St. John Fisher, winner of the last two E8 Conference titles, is picked first, followed closely by Ithaca. Alfred was picked third and Nazareth fourth, just one point ahead of RIT.

Nazareth opens its season March 14 in Kissimmee, Fla. with a doubleheader against Montclair State and Endicott, Mass. The Empire 8 Conference will be up to eight softball members in 2010 as Stevens fields a team for the first time.

Empire 8 Conference pre-season poll
1. St. John Fisher (4 first-place votes)	46 points
2. Ithaca (4)	45
3. Alfred	37
4. Nazareth	27
5. RIT	26
6. Elmira	18
7. Utica	17
8. Stevens	8