Hamilton College is ranked No. 1 in the Lacrosse Magazine 2011 women's Division III preseason Top 20 poll, which was released on Dec. 20.
Hamilton won its first 21 games in 2010 before a narrow 7-6 loss to Salisbury University in the NCAA championship game. Salisbury is ranked second in the preseason poll. The Continentals were the 2009 preseason No. 1 after they won Hamilton's first NCAA team title in 2008.
The Continentals went 8-0 in the Liberty League and captured the league's regular season title. Hamilton routed Rensselaer and Union College in the 2010 league tournament, and won its fourth straight championship. The Continentals tied a team record with the 21 victories last year, and have won 38 straight at home. Hamilton scored 322 goals and allowed 131 in 2010.
The Continentals are scheduled to play five teams ranked in the 2011 preseason poll: No. 5 Gettysburg (March 16 in San Antonio), No. 6 SUNY Cortland (March 22 in home opener), No. 16 Middlebury (April 5 at home), No. 8 Williams (April 19 away) and No. 12 Union (April 30 away in regular season finale).
Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Poll
