GORHAM, Maine – The University of Southern Maine Huskies women's ice hockey team was picked to finish third in the annual Little East Conference preseason coaches' poll. The Huskies finished with 34 points to rank behind Norwich University and UMass Boston. Norwich is the conference favorite with 49 points and seven first-place votes. UMass Boston received 42 points and one first-place vote.
 
Highlighting the returners for the Huskies is senior Maggie Jones (Marystown, Newfoundland/Mount Academy), the 2025-26 LEC Goaltender of the Year and a First Team All-LEC selection. Jones led the conference in save percentage with a .944 mark while also ranking second in goals against average at 1.54. She posted a record of 8-8-1 with five shutouts, all of which came in conference play.
 
Southern Maine also returns the sophomore duo of Gracelyn Koch (Maple Grove, New Brunswick) and Charlotte Hughes (Mississauga, Ontario), who each earned a spot on the LEC All-Rookie Team last year. Koch led the team in assists with 11 and tied for second in points with 15. Koch went all 27 games last season without committing a penalty and is the top returning point scorer for the Huskies. Hughes scored seven goals in her rookie season and her total is the most among the team's returning players. Both players will look to remain key contributors to the Huskies' offense.
 
Juniors Greta Grant (Brownfield, Maine/Fryeburg Academy) and Sophia Capone (Cumberland, R.I./Portsmouth Abbey School) are among the top returning defenders for the Huskies. Grant blocked 37 shots to finish second on the team last year. She also assisted on four goals while playing in all 27 games. Capone, who also played in all 27 games, recorded eight assists last year to rank fourth on the team and second among defenders. She also scored a goal.
 
The Huskies will host a pair of exhibition games against Endicott College and Johnson & Wales University on October 23 and October 24 before opening the season with a home game on Friday, October 30 against the University of New England at 4:00 pm in the USM Ice Arena.
 

2026-27 Little East Conference Women's Ice Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll
1.	Norwich	49 points	7 FPV
2.	UMass Boston	42 points	1 FPV
3.	Southern Maine	34 points
4.	VTSU Castleton	29 points
5.	Plymouth State	27 points
6.	Keene State	23 points
7.	New England College	13 points
8.	WestConn	7 points