COUGARS SOFTBALL

COUGARS SELECTED FIRST IN PRESEASON CACC SOFTBALL POLL

2-16-06
CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College softball team was chosen to repeat as champions of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, according to the 2006 CACC Preseason Coaches Poll conducted by the conference's 12 head coaches. The Cougars, who have won the CACC regular-season and tournament titles the past two seasons, received nine first-place votes and 141 points.

Last season Caldwell was 40-11, including an 18-2 mark in the CACC, and was ranked 22nd in the final 2005 NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll after making its second straight appearance in the NCAA Northeast Region Tournament. Over the past two seasons, the Cougars have gone 37-3 against conference foes during the regular season while compiling a 7-1 record in the last two CACC Tournaments.

Head coach Dean Johnson, the 2005 CACC Coach of the Year, returns 17 of 19 players from last season, including first team all-CACC performers Amy Coker (Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville), Anna Dahl (Lindenwold, NJ/Camden Catholic), Katie Jackson (Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville), pictured, and Jessica Saunders (Glen Burnie, MD/Archbishop Spaulding). The Cougars currently are ranked 16th in the NFCA Division II Preseason Poll, marking the 16th consecutive national poll in which the Cougars have been included in the top 25, dating back to the 2004 season.

Georgian Court, which finished runner-up to Caldwell in the regular season and the tournament, was picked second and received two first-place votes, followed by Post and Holy Family. Felician received the other first-place vote and was chosen fifth.

The Cougars begin the 2006 season in Kissimmee, Fla., at the Rebel Games on Saturday, Mar. 18. Their first CACC game is Mar. 25 against Nyack College at Caldwell Field.

2006 CACC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll

* - First-place votes in parentheses