Colonial States Athletic Conference

Aston, Pa. – Neumann College’s Softball team has been selected as the pre-season favorite in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) coaches’ poll. The 2008 conference champion received nine of twelve possible first-place votes for a total of 139 points, finishing ahead of Gwynedd-Mercy College.

"We are honored to have been chosen by the coaches as the pre-season favorite,” said Head Coach Bill Saar. “We are excited to have the opportunity to defend our 2008 conference title and play for the first Colonial States Athletic Conference championship."

Under Saar’s guidance, Knights Softball made program history in 2008 when the team earned its first victory ever in the NCAA Regional Tournament.

Gwynedd-Mercy College earned a total of 130 points and the remaining three first-place votes to finish second in the poll. Marywood University was selected third with 118 points and Cabrini College rounded out the top four with 107 points.

Centenary College (87), Cedar Crest College (84), Immaculata University (62), Philadelphia Biblical University (61), Baptist Bible College (56), Keystone College (50), College of Notre Dame (26) and Rosemont College (16) rounded out the voting.

The 2009 CSAC Softball Championship will feature the top six teams in the conference and will begin with single elimination, first round action on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at the #3 and #4 seeds. The Championship Finals will take place at the number one seed on Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3, 2009.