Jan. 25, 2012
USA Today/NFCA Poll | USA Softball Poll
Bronx, N.Y. -
The USA Softball and NFCA/USA Today released their preseason Top 25 polls for the 2012 softball season this week and Fordham appeared in the "receiving votes" column of both polls. Its the second straight season the team has earned votes in both preseason polls.
The Rams enter the 2012 season after a 2011 Atlantic 10 Championship season, a season where they advanced to the NCAA Regional for the second straight year, winning a game at the regional for the second consecutive time. The Rams boasted 42 total wins last spring, including a 16-4 conference mark, and claimed victories over three Top-25 teams: DePaul, Texas and Syracuse.
Fordham returns All Atlantic 10 First Team member Jen Mineau and Second Team honoree, Jamie LaBovick. Mineau posted a 24-9 record with a 1.56 ERA last year and set the school marks in strikeouts and wins while LaBovick started all 61 games for the Rams at first base. Additionally, the team brings back Head Coach Bridget Orchard, who captured her second consecutive A-10 Coach of the Year award in 2011; as well as Gabby Luety, an All-Rookie Team member, and senior Nicole Callahan, who was an All-Mid-Atlantic Region selection.
The 2012 schedule looks as challenging as 2011 as the Rams are slated to face nine different schools that also saw their names ranked among the nation's best. Fordham welcomes Massachusetts (RV-RV) and Alabama (#2/#3) to Bahoshy Field for a total of three games in May when the Minutewomen visit on May 4th and 5th and the Crimson Tide come calling on May 7th. Locally the team will travel to Long Island to face Hofstra (-/RV) on April 17. Additionally, the Rams will face East Carolina (-/RV), Louisville (RV/#25), California (#3/#4), Arizona (#8/#8), UCLA (#13/#19) and North Carolina (RV/RV) in various tournaments early in the season.
Fordham opens up its 2012 campaign on February 17 when they take on Virginia in Greenville, North Carolina at 5:00 PM. The home opener comes on March 20 against St. John's.
