The three-time defending national champion University of Minnesota Duluth women's ice hockey team has been picked to finish second in the Western Collegiate Hockey Conference 2003 Coaches' Poll, the league announced today.

UMD, the No. 1 rated team in all of NCAA college hockey, according to the USCHO.com Preseason Poll, received two first place votes and 32 total points to finish just behind the University of Minnesota who garnered five first place votes and 35 points to land the top spot in the poll.

Rounding out the poll were the University of Wisconsin (26), the Ohio State University (20), Bemidji State University (15), Minnesota State University, Mankato (10), and St. Cloud State University (6).

The Bulldogs will open their season on the road when they face Minnesota State Mankato Oct. 10-11. Both games are scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and will be played at the Midwest Wireless Center.