BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The results of the 2015 Little East Conference Field Hockey Preseason Poll have been released and the Bridgewater State University Bears have been picked to finish sixth in the 12-team conference.

The Bears garnered 82 points to finish behind preseason favorite and defending champion Keene State College (138 pts.) as well as Plymouth State University (122 pts.), UMass Dartmouth (106 pts.), Western Connecticut State University (91 pts.) and the University of Southern Maine (86 pts.).

BSU head coach Tia Pydynkowski returns for her second year at the helm of the Bears' field hockey program. Last season, Pydynkowski guided the Bears to an overall record of 8-11 including a 6-5 mark in the Little East.

Returning to the lineup are forwards Kelsey Kiely (Mansfield, Mass.), Brittney Field (Hubbardston, Mass.), Tori O'Dea (South Dennis, Mass.), Marinna Emond (Seekonk, Mass.) and Hayley Grimes (East longmeadow, Mass.), as well as midfielders Brittany Cullinane (Lunenburg, Mass.), Emily Mosca (Dedham, Mass.), Mary Roche (Arlington, Mass.), Mary Dubin (Holden, Mass.), Alison Loranger (East Freetown, Mass.) and Hannah Ciavarra (Holliston, Mass.). Janet Maher (Mansfield, Mass.), Christine Curran (Ayer, Mass.), Melissa Butler (Watertown, Mass.) and Molly Bennett (Ashland, Mass.) are the returning defenders, while Kaylyn Allahyarian (Norwell, Mass.) is back between the pipes.

The Bears open the 2015 campaign on Tuesday, September 1st (7:00 PM) at home against non-conference foe WPI.

Please click here (pdf) for the results of the poll.