MINNEAPOLIS - The Boston University women's ice hockey team is ranked No. 7 in the 2019-20 USCHO.com preseason poll, which was unveiled on Monday.

This is the highest preseason ranking the Terriers have received since they were chosen eighth prior to the 2015-16 season. They join local rivals Northeastern (No. 4) and Boston College (No. 8) in the top 10. Two other teams the Terriers will face this season, Providence and Harvard, also received votes.

The Terriers graduated just three seniors from last year's squad that finished 21-8-8 and closed the campaign as the No. 8 team in the nation. BU only lost 7.7% of its point production and 5.0% of its goal scoring from a year ago. In addition to the strong corps of returning offensive skaters, BU will welcome back junior goaltender Corinne Schroeder, who finished last year with a single-season program record save percentage of .933.

BU will open its regular season on Sunday, Oct. 6, at Union.