LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The No. 1 Lock Haven University softball team has been tabbed as the favorite to win the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central Division as the PSAC Preseason Softball Coaches Poll was announced today (Friday, Feb. 20).

With the additions of Gannon and Mercyhurst Universities to the PSAC, softball will see three divisions this year.

Lock Haven received all five first-place votes in the Central Division.

Local-rival Bloomsburg was picked to finished second, followed by Indiana (Pa.) University, Mansfield and Clarion.

Kutztown was named the favorite in the Eastern Division and California (Pa.) was picked to win the West.

The Lady Eagles are currently ranked number-one in the country as they head into the 2009 season looking for their second National Championship in four years.

2009 PSAC Preseason Softball Coaches Poll:

*First place votes in parenthesis

PSAC Central

1. Lock Haven (5)

2. Bloomsburg

3. IUP

4. Mansfield

5. Clarion

PSAC East

1. Kutztown (5)

2. Shippensburg

3. East Stroudsburg

4. Millersville

5. West Chester



PSAC West

1. California (Pa.) (4)

2. Slippery Rock (1)

3. Gannon

4. Mercyhurst

5. Edinboro

The Lady Eagles will travel to the Aloha State to kick off the 2009 season. LHU is set to take on the University of Hawaii at Hilo on Saturday, Feb. 28.

Check back for a full 2009 season preview, which will be posted shortly on HavenSports.com