The WCHA women's preseason coaches poll was released today, and Minnesota State was picked to finish last in the eight-team league. Defending national champion Minnesota Duluth was picked to finish first, getting six first-place votes. Here are the results of the poll (first-place votes are in parenthesis):
1. Minnesota Duluth (6), 48 points
2. Wisconsin (2), 43 points
3. Minnesota, 37 points
4. Ohio State, 30 points
5. North Dakota, 27 points
6. Bemidji State, 17 points
7. St. Cloud State, 13 points
8. Minnesota State, 9 points
Preseason player of the year: Hilary Knight, F, Wisconsin (7); Monique Lamoureux, F, North Dakota (1)
Preseason rookie of the year: Amanda Kessel, F, Minnesota (6); Alex Rigsby, G, Wisconsin (1); Packer Madison, F, Wisconsin (1/2); Brittany Ammerman, F, Wisconsin (1/2)
The Mavericks, who are entering their second season under coach Eric Means, have 11 freshmen this season and are coming off a 7-22-5 season (5-18-5 in WCHA). They have not finished last in the WCHA since 2002-03 when there were seven teams in the league. They were seventh last season, two points ahead of North Dakota and 10 points behind fifth-place Ohio State and Bemidji State. One reason for the Sioux's big jump is undoubtedly the addition of Lamoureux and her twin sister Jocelyne -- 2010 Olympians who transferred to UND from Minnesota.
Minnesota State will open the season Oct. 8-9 with a home series against Niagara.
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