CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Lesley University softball team was tabbed to finish fourth in the New England Collegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' poll.

The Lynx qualified for the NECC playoffs for a seventh straight season in 2015 and return a solid core in 2016 including NECC Player of the Year Mekenzi Golden (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) along with NECC All-Conference players Theresa Pereira (Hopedale, Mass.) and Selena Quezada (West Covina, Calif.).

Elms College was picked to defend their 2015 conference title and led the poll with 93 total points and five first place votes. Mitchell College and Becker College both finished with 80 total points in a tie for second place while Newbury College, who also picked up a first place vote, was tabbed to finish fifth in the league.

Regis College, Bay Path University, Southern Vermont College, Daniel Webster College, and Wheelock College rounded out the poll.

The Lynx will take off on Friday and travel to the Central Florida Rebel Spring Games before opening their season on Sunday with a doubleheader against Dubuque and McDaniel.

NECC PRESEASON COACHES POLL

1. Elms – 93 (5)
T2. Mitchell –  80 (3)
T2. Becker – 80 (1)
4. Lesley – 74
5. Newbury – 65 (1)
6. Regis – 48
7. Bay Path – 42
8. Southern Vermont – 38
9. Daniel Webster – 17
10.  Wheelock – 13