Brooklyn, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn women's golf team has been chosen fourth in the Northeast Conference's preseason poll. The poll is compiled based on a vote by the league's coaches who are not allowed to vote for their own team, and Sacred Heart earned the top spot.

LIU returns 2011 NEC Individual Champion senior Anna Palsson, who provided leadership and strong play for the Blackbirds during the fall 2011 campaign. Palsson finished second at the Sacred Heart Fall Classic, carding rounds of 74-82. Also filling a leadership role will be senior Julia Rappa, who has seen consistent improvement on the links over her four years as a Blackbird.

First year head coach Natalie Desjardins will look to a trio of promising newcomers this spring in Brianna Maynard, Alice Boothroyd, and Cristina Felip. Maynard registered a collegiate-low of 80 at the Yale Fall Intercollegiate and the Sacred Heart Fall Classic, while Boothroyd shot on 81 at both events. Felip, a transfer from Barcelona, Spain will complete the LIU lineup.

The Pioneers received eight first place votes, while Fairleigh Dickinson was second with three. Saint Francis (Pa.) landed in third place while Robert Morris and Wagner took fifth and sixth, respectively. Monmouth took seventh while Central Connecticut State, Mount St. Mary's, St. Francis (N.Y.) and Quinnipiac rounded out the poll.

The LIU Brooklyn women's golf team opens the 2012 season by hosting the Lonnie Barton Invitational on March 5-6 in Savannah, Ga.