New Haven, Conn. - (2/18/2021) – A little less than a month from their first scheduled contest, Chestnut Hill College appeared 12^th out of 14 teams in the recently conducted 2021 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Softball Preseason Coaches Poll. The Scarlet and Gold received 57 points from the league's head coaches, placing them above Goldey-Beacom College (49 points) and Holy Family University (45). 2019 CACC Regular Season Champion, Georgian Court University (165 points, 4 first-place votes) took the top spot in the forecasted standings, edging out Caldwell University (163, 4) by two points; both the Lions and Cougars received four first-place votes. As did 2019 CACC Tournament Champion, Wilmington University who placed third in the poll with 160 points. Dominican College (4^th, 154 points) and Post University (5^th, 134) received the two remaining first-place votes.

2019 CACC Coach of the Year, Nicole Degenhardt and the Georgian Court University Lions return 2019 All-CACC First Team outfielder, senior Caitlin Hughes (Glen Gardner, N.J.) and 2019 All-CACC Second Team pitcher, junior Mikayla Gilgert (Queen Creek, Ariz.) to a roster that went 6-12 before the COVID-19 halt. Meanwhile, Caldwell University welcomes back 2019 All-CACC First Team designated player, senior Kaileen Cain (Hauppauge, N.Y.) and a pair of 2019 All-CACC Second Team performers in senior catcher Paige Sandoval (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) and junior pitcher Mariah Culver (Oswego, N.Y.). The Cougars went 2-4 in the shortened 2020 season and finished 2019 with a 32-23 overall, and a 20-6 CACC, record. Two seasons removed from their 2019 league title, Wilmington University will feature 2019 All-CACC First Team third baseman, junior Lauren Lopez (Burbank, Calif.) and 2019 All-CACC Second Team shortstop, senior Alyssa Velasquez (Indio, Calif.) on a squad that finished their 2020 story with an 0-10 run against some of the top competition in the nation.
 
Chestnut Hill College's COVID-19 shortened season consisted of a 1-5 stretch at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. There – under Head Coach Francine Roseman - the Griffins celebrated a 3-2 comeback win over Shawnee State University (March 3) as their lone victory before the onset of the pandemic. Freshman catcher Haley Furlong (Point Pleasant, N.J.) recorded what was the eventual game-winning hit against the Bears with a two-run, bases-loaded single in the sixth-inning.

Junior designated player Gabrielle O'Byrne (Moorestown, N.J.) headlined the Griffins' six-game season box score with a .467 (7-for-15)/.467/.667 slash line (Batting Average/On-Base Percentage/Slugging Percentage) that resulted in two runs and three runs-batted-in (RBI). Senior centerfielder Devon Horner (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) also served as an offensive cog with a run and three RBI on six hits (6-for-22, .273), while fellow classmate Julianna Barry (Northridge, Calif.) was the Scarlet and Gold's most valuable arm in 2020. She finished 2020 with a 0.72 earned run average (ERA) over four appearances (9.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 9 K) out of the bullpen.
 
The complete results of the 2021 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Softball Preseason Coaches Poll are located below and also available with use of the provided links.
   

Rank. School	2020 Record	Points
1. Georgian Court University	6-12	165 (4)
2. Caldwell University	2-4	163 (4)
3. Wilmington University	0-10	160 (4)
4. Dominican College	6-4	154 (1)
5. Post University	7-3	134 (1)
6. Thomas Jefferson University	0-4	114
T7. Bloomfield College	1-9	98
T7. Felician University	5-11	98
9. Nyack College	3-6	89
10. University of the Sciences	4-12	71
11. Concordia College	3-7	59
12. Chestnut Hill College	1-5	57
13. Goldey-Beacom College	1-7	49
14. Holy Family University	3-7	45

() - First-Place Votes