PAWTUCKET, R.I.--The Keene State College field hockey team has been selected to win its fifth straight Little East Conference championship in a poll of the league's coaches announced today.
The Owls (21-4, 11-0 LEC in 2016) received 110 points and five first place votes, edging out Worcester State, who received six first place votes but 108 total points. Plymouth State was in third place with 101 points and one first place vote.
Keene State returns seniors Brittany Johnson, Casi Smith and Kendal Brown (6-8-20), juniors Erica Stauffer (18-6-42) and Julia Babbitt (12-6-32), All-LEC sophomore Jensyn Dandeneau (12-11-35), classmate Jordan LaRaus (0.92 GAA, 1-0), while welcoming 11 newcomers to the team. KSC opens the season at Colby-Sawyer on Friday, September 1, at 4 p.m.
| Institution | First Place Votes | Total Points |
| Keene State | 5 | 110 |
| Worcester State | 6 | 108 |
| Plymouth State | 1 | 101 |
| Bridgewater State | 81 | |
| Fitchburg State | 68 | |
| Southern Maine | 65 | |
| Eastern Conn. State | 62 | |
| Westfield State | 62 | |
| UMass Dartmouth | 56 | |
| Western Conn. State | 45 | |
| Salem State | 18 | |
| Framingham State | 16 |