HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The two-time defending Landmark Conference champion Juniata College field hockey squad was picked to finish second in 2009, in preseason voting of the conference's head coaches and sports information directors released on Friday. 

Juniata received 45 points in the poll and trailed only Catholic University, which finished atop the poll with 64 points.

The difference between the second, third, and fourth place spots in the poll was extremely tight, with the Eagles followed by Drew University in third place with 44 points, and Susquehanna University in fourth place with 43 points. 

The University of Scranton placed fifth in the poll with 27 points, followed by Moravian College (19 pts.) in sixth place and Goucher College (10 pts.) in seventh place.

Juniata finished with a 9-12 overall record last season, 3-3 in the Landmark Conference, but won six of its last eight games on its way to winning a second straight Landmark Conference crown with a 2-1 double overtime win over Catholic. The Eagles had been 3-10 prior to their late-season run to the title. 

Juniata will be paced in 2009 by junior Paula Price (Camp Hill, Pa./East Pennsboro), who tallied six goals and five assists with 17 points last season, and sophomore Brittany Kauffman (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove), who finished with five goals and two assists for 12 points.  The Eagles will also return the services of sophomore back Meghan McGlone (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh), the 2009 Landmark Rookie of the Year. 

The Eagles will open their season on Tuesday, Sept. 1, against Messiah College, in a neutral site contest. The location and time for that match have yet to be determined.

Complete results are below:

LANDMARK CONFERENCE

2009 Preseason Field Hockey Poll

1. Catholic University – 64 pts.

2. Juniata College – 45 pts.

3. Drew University – 44 pts.

4. Susquehanna University – 43 pts.

5. University of Scranton – 27 pts.

6. Moravian College – 19 pts.

7. Goucher College – 10 pts.