[CAA WOMEN] James Madison is the favorite to win the CAA women’s title in 2010, but four other teams received first-place votes in the preseason poll.

JMU returns five starters, including  two-time All-CAA midfielder Teresa Rynier, from last season’s 11-8-2 squad that reached the CAA championship game.

Hofstra, which has advanced to the CAA title match in three of the past five seasons, has eight starters back from last year’s 10-6-3 team.

UNCW captured its first CAA championship in 2009 and returns seven starters from a 13-8-1 team that tied the school record for victories.

William & Mary, which has nine returning starters from last season’s 12-7 squad, welcomes back a pair of all-conference defenders in junior Diana Weigel, who was the CAA Defender of the Year in 2009, and senior Kaitlin O’Connor.

Among eight returning starters for Northeastern is sophomore forward Devin Petta, who received CAA Player and Rookie of the Year accolades after contributing 14 goals and seven assists.

2010 CAA Preseason Women’s Poll
1. James Madison (5) 108
2. Hofstra (1) 107
3. UNC Wilmington (4)  103
4. William and Mary (1) 93
5. Northeastern (1)    87
6. George Mason  74
7. Old Dominion   62
8. Delaware  51
t9. Towson 35
t9. VCU  35
11. Georgia State  23
12. Drexel   14