BROOKLYN, N.Y. --- The Northeast Conference unveiled its preseason coaches poll for women's cross country on Friday, with LIU Brooklyn predicted to finish ninth in this year's championship. The Blackbirds will be under the leadership of new head coach Yvonne Harrison.

With a commanding eight first place votes, Sacred Heart was selected by the league's coaches to repeat as NEC champions, followed by Central Connecticut (2 first place votes) and Saint Francis U, rounding out the top three. The rest of the predicted order of finish goes as follows: Bryant (4th), Mount St. Mary's (5th), Robert Morris (6th), Wagner (7th), Fairleigh Dickinson (8th), LIU Brooklyn (9th), followed by St. Francis Brooklyn in the tenth spot.

Coach Harrison will have an experienced lineup when the season kicks off in three weeks time, as six of the seven returnees from last season's team, which placed ninth at the NEC Championships last fall.

The Blackbirds will begin the season on September 8, at the Shawn M. Nassaney Invitational at Bryant University, with their next meet on September 15 at the familiar confines of Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, as LIU will race in Iona's annual Dr. Paddy Doyle Meet of Champions. The 2018 NEC Championship Meet will be held on October 27, back on the course at Bryant in Rhode Island.