NEW HAVEN, Conn. (January 29, 2025) – Wilmington University has been predicted to finish in first place in the in the 2025 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference softball standings, according to the results of the sport's CACC Preseason Coaches' Poll released today by Commissioner Dan Mara.

Wilmington (46-16, 20-2 CACC in 2024) is coming off a 2024 season which saw it set a program record for victories. The Wildcats won CACC regular-season and tournament championships, then captured the NCAA Division II East Region title to advance to the D-II National Championship tournament for the second consecutive season. Wilmington is ranked No. 5 in the 2025 national preseason Division-II coaches' poll.

The Wildcats received 11 of 12 first-place votes in the CACC poll and 121 total points. The University of Bridgeport, a CACC finalist and NCAA Tournament participant a year ago, collected the other first-place vote and was chosen for second place with 111 points. Goldey-Beacom College was picked for third place with 91 points, followed closely by the 89 points of fourth-place Felician University. 

The next four positions in the poll went to, respectively, Caldwell University (5th, 77 points), Holy Family University (6th, 62), Georgian Court University (7th, 59) and Bloomfield College (8th, 57). Thomas Jefferson University was slotted into the ninth position with 46 points, followed by Dominican University New York (43), Post University (23), and Chestnut Hill College (13).

The regular season begins on Friday, with Felician playing the first two of a five-game trip to Pembroke, N.C. Most league teams will have opened their season by March 2, with conference action slated to start on Saturday, March 15.

At season's end, the top eight teams in the standings will qualify for the CACC Championship tournament. The opening round will be held on Saturday, April 26, at campus sites. Bridgeport will host the four-team, double-elimination segment on May 1-3 at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Conn. The CACC champion will automatically qualify for the 2025 NCAA Division II East Region Championship.


2025 CACC SOFTBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
(First-place votes in parentheses)

1. Wilmington University 121 pts. (11)
2. University of Bridgeport 111 (1)
3. Goldey-Beacom College 91
4. Felician University 89
5. Caldwell University 77
6. Holy Family University 62
7. Georgian Court University 59
8. Bloomfield College 57
9. Thomas Jefferson University 46
10. Dominican University New York 43
11. Post University 23
12. Chestnut Hill College 13

Bloomfield opens up 2025 season on the road, Saturday, February 22 with a doubleheader against Millersville University at 12:00 pm.
Click Here to see their entire 2025 Schedule.

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