PURCHASE, N.Y. – With the start of the season rapidly approaching, the Manhattanville College women's hockey team has been voted fourth in the 2021-22 United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) Women's Preseason Poll.

The Valiants come off a 4-5 abbreviated season in 2021 that saw them advance to the UCHC Semifinals where they were defeated by eventual conference champions Elmira College. The Soaring Eagles have moved on to the New England Hockey Conference this season after four straight UCHC championships, leaving this year's crown completely up for grabs.

Manhattanville returns 15 players from last season's campaign. The Valiants will have Franny Gerardi (Yonkers, N.Y./Selects Academy) between the pipes again this season, the lone goalkeeper to see action last year. The junior comes off a 315 save season, sporting a 3.79 goals-against average. Offensively, Manhattanville will also welcome back their top scorer from a season ago in Morgan Miller (St. Augustine, Fla./Gilmour Academy). Miller earned Second Team All-UCHC honors last season after leading the Crimson and White with nine points on seven goals and a pair of assists.

Manhattanville placed fourth in the preseason poll as voted on by the 11 league coaches, receiving 72 points overall. Nazareth College was voted first in the conference with 99 points and nine first place votes. Utica College placed second while receiving the two remaining first-place votes and 92 total points. Stevenson ranked third in the poll, finishing six points ahead of the Valiants.

The Valiants begin the season on Nov. 5 by diving right into UCHC action with their opener at King's College at 7 p.m.

2021-22 UCHC Women's Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Nazareth – 99 Points (9 First Place Votes)
2. Utica – 91 Points (2 First Place Votes)
3. Stevenson – 78 Points
4. Manhattanville – 72 Points
5. Chatham – 66 Points
6. Neumann – 52 Points
7. Alvernia – 48 Points
8. Lebanon Valley – 35 Points
9. Wilkes – 24 Points
10. Arcadia – 22 Points
11. King's – 18 Points

ABOUT THE UNITED COLLEGIATE HOCKEY CONFERENCE
The United Collegiate Hockey Conference is a collaborative effort between eleven institutions to provide a competitive environment and structure for NCAA Division III men's and women's ice hockey in the Eastern United States. Our membership encompasses a wide geographic area spanning from Central and Western New York to the greater Pittsburgh and Baltimore areas. In its fifth season, the UCHC will incorporate the efforts of ice hockey student-athletes from Arcadia University, Alvernia University, Chatham University, King's College, Lebanon Valley College, Manhattanville College, Nazareth College, Neumann University, Stevenson University, Utica College, and Wilkes University into their strong, but evolving membership that strives for on-ice excellence while also preparing student athletes for their off-ice futures. For more on the UCHC, visit the league's homepage at http://www.TheUCHC.com, or follow the league on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/UCHCHockey.

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