CAPE COD, Mass. — RIT has claimed the top spot in the 2009-2010 ECAC Women's West Coaches Poll.

Defending conference champion Elmira was picked second with 88 points and four first-place votes, and Plattsburgh State was three points behind in third.

The Tigers posted a 15-2-1 league record (21-3-2 overall) and spent the majority of the 2008-09 campaign ranked in the top five of the USCHO Division III Poll. RIT is led by 2008-09 Co-Coach of the Year Scott MacDonald and returns four all-conference players: forwards Sarah Dagg, Katie Stack and Ali Hills and defender Traci Galbraith.

Elmira, which lost in the NCAA Division III championship game last March, is led by Co-Coach of the Year Greg Fargo and returns First-Team All-ECAC West defenders Jamie Kivi and Tiffany Hart.

The Cardinals finished last season at 22-5-2 overall and 15-3 in the league. They return 16 players, including First-Team All-ECAC West selection Stephanie Moberg, a senior forward who had 18 goals and 21 assists last year.

The rest of the voting: 4. Neumann, 71 points; 5. Utica, 55; 6. Oswego, 52; 7. Chatham, 36; 8. Potsdam, 27; 9. Cortland, 26; and 10. Buffalo State, 18.

Plattsburgh State plays its annual Red/White game at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Cardinals will also host an exhibition against an opponent to be determined on Nov. 7 or 8.

The team officially opens the season Nov. 14-15 at conference foe Chatham in Pittsburgh, Pa.