BROOKLYN - The reigning Northeast Conference champion LIU Brooklyn women's golf team was selected to defend its title in the 2013 season, according to a preseason poll of the league's coaches released on Friday. The team, comprised of three sophomores and two freshmen, garnered five first-place votes and were predicted to finish atop the league ahead of Fairleigh Dickinson and Central Connecticut, who earned four and two first-place votes, respectively.

The Blackbirds won their second conference title in program history last season under NEC Co-Head Coach of the Year Natalie Desjardins and return the individual champion, sophomore Cristina Felip. Felip, who ran away with last year's championship by a record 11 strokes, led LIU Brooklyn at three tournaments in the fall while posting two top-10 finishes.

Classmate Brianna Maynard was the frontrunner for the Blackbirds twice this fall, including a 17th place finish at the Sacred Heart Invitational, which was the top finish of any NEC athlete at the tournament. Sophomore Alice Boothyard, and freshmen Victoria Fagan and Marisol Doglioli round out the roster.

LIU opens its spring season on Saturday, March 9 with a tri-match against Seton Hall and Yale in Florida. Tournament action begins with the Lonnie Barton Invitational on March 11-12.