2010 Schedule
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth's field hockey team is picked to finish sixth in the Empire 8 Conference standings for 2010 according to a pre-season poll conducted by the league's head coaches.

Nazareth finished 6-10 overall in 2009, including a 1-5 mark in the Empire 8.

Guided by sixth-year head coach Andrea Tutino, Nazareth returns a pair of second-team all-conference players in senior Emily Conway and junior Erin Law. Nazareth opens its season Sept. 4 at home against William Smith at 1 p.m.

Two-time defending champion Stevens Institute of Technology is the pre-season favorite to win the title again. The Ducks received five first-place votes for a total of 35 points. Hartwick received the other two first-place votes and was picked second.

Five different schools have won or shared the E8 title in field hockey. Stevens will attempt to become the first team to capture three consecutive titles. More than half of the conference games in the past three seasons were decided by one goal and 11 games have been decided in overtime.

2010 Empire 8 Field Hockey Pre-season Poll
1. Stevens (5 first-place votes	35 points
2. Hartwick (2)	31
3. Washington & Jefferson	27
4. Ithaca	20
5. Utica	16
6. Nazareth	13
7. Elmira	6