The America East Conference coaches made the Stanford field hockey team the unanimous pick to win the West Division in the preseason poll announced Wednesday.

The Cardinal, which has won back-to-back AEC championships was named the top choice for a third time in four years, ahead of Pacific, California and UC Davis. Albany earned the nod over Maine in the East Division.

Stanford opens its season at Northwestern on Saturday, Aug. 25, meeting defending NCAA champion Connecticut. The Cardinal faces the host Wildcats the next day.

The Cardinal opens at home against Syracuse on Saturday, Sept. 1. Stanford's first three opponents each made it to the NCAA tournament.

Eight regular-season contests are on tap at Varsity Turf, which will also serve as the host site for the 2018 America East Conference Championship, scheduled for Nov. 1-4.