ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell women's hockey team was picked to finish first in ECAC Hockey for the 2011-12 season by the league's coaches, ECAC Hockey announced Thursday morning.

The Big Red received 11 of the 12 first-place votes — coach Doug Derraugh was not allowed to vote for his own team — for a total of 121 points. Harvard finished second in the voting with 105 points, and Quinnipiac placed third with 93 points and the one remaining first-place vote.

ECAC Hockey also put out its Preseason All-League Team on Thursday afternoon, and  four Cornell student-athletes made the list.

Forwards Brianne Jenner and Rebecca Johnston join an all-Big Red blue line of Laura Fortino and Lauriane Rougeau on the All-League Team. Cornell's players are joined by Quinnipiac goalie Victoria Vigilanti and forward Kelly Babstock.

Jenner, just a sophomore, made a huge impact in her rookie campaign by scoring 23 goals and notching 27 assists in 33 games. Johnston is a three-time all-conference selection who averaged 1.45 points per game in conference play last year.

Fortino was the nation's top scoring defender, tallying 41 points in a year that saw her named to the Reebok Hockey/AHCA All-America First Team. Rougeau impressed with her second consecutive second-team All-America award and a country-best +50 rating.

The Big Red finished 31-3-1 last year and won its second consecutive ECAC Hockey regular season and tournament championships. Cornell, which has gone to the Women's Frozen Four in back-to-back years, returns five of ECAC Hockey's top six scorers and only surrendered 20 goals last season.

The Big Red play an exhibition game at home on Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. against Brampton before its regular season starts on Oct. 25 at ECAC Hockey rival Colgate at 7 p.m.

POLL RESULTS

Team (first place votes)	Points
1. Cornell (11)	121
2. Harvard	105
3. Quinnipiac (1)	93
4. Dartmouth	91
5. Clarkson	82
6. St. Lawrence	70
7. Princeton	68
8. Rennelaer	51
9. Colgate	41
10. Yale	36
11. Brown	22
12. Union	12