Northeast Conference Preseason Release
NEC 2011 Composite Schedule
LORETTO, Pa. (Aug. 3, 2011) – The Northeast Conference announced its preseason coaches' poll Wednesday with Saint Francis University picked to finish ninth.
Central Connecticut State earned the top spot in the preseason poll for the second consecutive season grabbing five first-place votes. Duquesne entered the poll second followed by Robert Morris third. Albany ranked fourth in the preseason poll followed by Bryant fifth. Monmouth ranked sixth, Wagner seventh and Sacred Heart eighth followed by Saint Francis.
The Red Flash finished ninth in the conference a season ago with an overall record of 1-10 and a 1-7 mark in league play. Saint Francis returns 18 starters from a season ago and brings in over 60 newcomers.
The Red Flash return two its top three pass catchers from last season in
Anthony Howze (Upper Marlboro, Md./Riverdale Baptist) and
Kyle Harbridge (Easton, Pa./Easton Area), who ranked as the Red Flash's top rusher a season ago.
John Kelly (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) ranked as the Red Flash's top passer a season ago and enters his junior season ranking in the Top 5 in Saint Francis history in pass attempts, pass completions and touchdown passes.
On the defensive side, Saint Francis looks to replace its top three tacklers from the 2010 season. The Red Flash return one of the conferences' top defensive freshman in Jakob DeMedal, who tied for the team lead in interception a season ago. DeMedal also picked up four pass-breakups and six pass-deflections.
Saint Francis opens the 2011 season Sept. 3 in Staten Island, N.Y. against Wagner and the Red Flash begin their home slate Sept. 17 against Morehead State with kickoff set for 1 p.m.
