[CAA WOMEN] James Madison is favored to repeat as the CAA women’s champion in what shapes up to be very competitive race. Hofstra, which became the firstteam since 1998 to post a perfect regular-season mark (11-0) in CAA play, and long-time power William & Mary also received first-place votes in the balloting of head coaches.
 
JMU returns six starters from last season’s 15-7-1 squad that captured its first CAA title since 2002 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Dukes, who have made 10 NCAATournament trips over the past 16 seasons, will be led by senior All-CAA midfielder Jessica Barndt and All-CAA rookie selections Lauren Wilson (8 goals, 1 assist) and Becky Sparks.
 
Hofstra welcomes back five starters — including All-CAA midfielders Brittany Butts (2, 1) and Courtney Breen (4, 5) — from last year’s 19-3-0 team that put together a school-record18-game winning streak and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

William & Mary has four All-CAA selections back from last year’s 10-7-2 squad: junior midfielders Mallory Schaffer (10, 3) and Cortlyn Bristol (6, 5), senior defender Diana Weigel (1,3) and sophomore forward Audrey Barry (3, 7). W&M had made 16 NCAA Tournament appearances over the past 19 years.
 
Northeastern (9-8-1)returns senior All-CAA forward Veronica Napoli (9, 3), junior forward Greta Samuelsdottir (8, 5) and junior defenderSandra Magnusdottir. All-CAA defender Kelly Thomas is among eight starters back at George Mason (11-7-2).

2011 WCC Women’s Poll
Team (First-Place Votes), Points
1. James Madison (7) 116
2. Hofstra (2) 108
3. William and Mary (3) 105
4. Northeastern 86
5. George Mason 81
6. UNC Wilmington 69
7. Georgia State 64
8t. Old Dominion 40
8t. VCU 40
10. Delaware 30
10. Towson 30
12. Drexel 23

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