Head coach Leigh Ross and the Orange begin practice on Tues., Jan. 16
Orange Tabbed Fifth in BIG EAST Preseason Poll
1/10/2007 10:28:22 AM | Softball
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Syracuse University softball team was picked fifth in the annual BIG EAST Conference preseason softball rankings, released on Wednesday, January 10. The preseason poll was conducted among the league’s 12 head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own team. It was the third consecutive season the Orange was picked to finish fifth in the preseason.
Syracuse acquired 65 points in the vote after placing fourth last season and setting a school record for victories with a 36-21 (.632) overall record. The Orange finished a program best 15-7 (.628) in league play and qualified for the BIG EAST Championship for the second consecutive season.
Reigning regular season champion Louisville was selected as the preseason favorite to win the league title earning 116 votes. Only six votes separated the Cardinals and second place USF (110 pts). Notre Dame was picked to finish third with 104 points
DePaul (93) was selected to finish fourth, followed by Syracuse, Pittsburgh (62), Providence (61) and St. John’s (51). Villanova (40) and Connecticut (35) round out the top 10 in the ninth and tenth spots, respectively. Seton Hall (32) and Rutgers (23) rounded out the preseason rankings.
The Orange returns eight starters from 2006 and will being play at the Kajikawa Classic hosted by Arizona State on Friday, February 9.
SU will start the 2007 campaign by matching up against two of the NCAA Division I World Series qualifiers UCLA (Feb. 9) and Arizona State (Feb. 9).
UCLA finished the 2006 season with a 50-9 record and has won 11 national championships. ASU also advanced to the WCWS (for the 12th time) and finished with a record of 53-15.
2007 BIG EAST Softball Preseason Poll
OVERALL BIG EAST B.E. FINISH
REGULAR SEASON
| School | Points | W | L | T | W | L | T | |
| Louisville (7) | 116 | 45 | 11 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| USF (4) | 110 | 50 | 23 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Notre Dame (1) | 104 | 42 | 21 | 0 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| DePaul | 93 | 33 | 22 | 0 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| 65 | 36 | 21 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 4 | |
| 62 | 32 | 27 | 0 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 7 | |
| 61 | 29 | 19 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 6 | |
| St. John's | 51 | 27 | 30 | 0 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 8 |
| Villanova | 40 | 13 | 40 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 12 |
| Connecticut | 35 | 19 | 29 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 10 |
| Seton Hall | 32 | 29 | 27 | 0 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 9 |
| Rutgers | 23 | 15 | 37 | 0 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 11 |
(-) Number of First Place Votes
Women's Lacrosse Postgame Press Conference vs. #7 Yale
Tuesday, March 17
Highlights | Syracuse vs. Yale
Tuesday, March 17
MLAX | Postgame Press Conference at Denver
Tuesday, March 17
Highlights | Syracuse vs. Denver
Tuesday, March 17
