CAMBRIDGE, MA -- The 2011 NECC Champions have been selected to repeat, as league coaches named Lesley the team to beat in the NECC preseason poll released on Wednesday.

The Lynx received five of nine first-place votes in capturing the top spot, earning 72 overall points and edging out Daniel Webster College, which received 64 and one first-place vote.

Other first place votes went to last season's runner up, Southern Vermont, which received one top vote (60 points) and Newbury, which tallied two first-place votes (57 points).

Lesley brings back six starters from last year's club, which went 15-5-1 in advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Ari Sinanis, who set a Lynx record with 10 assists a season ago, leads the returners, and fellow co-captain Jonathan Jones Takano returns from a redshirt for his senior season.

The Lynx open 2012 at home a week from Friday against Eastern Nazarene at 7:30 p.m. at Edward Field.

The entire results of the preseason coaches poll are below:

2012 NECC Men's Soccer Coaches Poll

1. Lesley - 72 (5)

2. Daniel Webster - 64 (1)

3. Southern Vermont - 60 (1)

4. Newbury - 57 (2)

5. Elms - 52

6. Mitchell - 37

7. Regis - 32

8. Becker - 20

9. Wheelock - 9