NAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll Released
WHITINGHAM, VT – The North Atlantic Conference (NAC) has released the 2013 Women's Soccer Preseason Poll and Thomas College has been ranked to finish eighth in a vote conducted by the league's coaches.
Thomas is returning 13 players from last season's squad that finished 4-11-1 overall and 1-7-1 in conference play.
The Terriers will begin their season over the weekend at the University of Southern Maine Invitational. On Friday they will take on Gordon, they play against New York Maritime on Saturday.
NAC RELEASE
Earning seven out of ten first place votes, three-time defending champion Castleton has been chosen as the preseason favorite to win the North Atlantic Conference Women's Soccer title in a poll of the league's coaches.
The Spartans, who went 8-1 during regular season conference play last season, are an impressive 32-1-1 in their last 34 conference games. Mallory Costello returns for her second season after bursting onto the scene to earn NAC Player and Rookie of the Year honors a season ago. Costello led the conference in scoring with 18 points in nine conference games, including a league-best eight goals. The Spartans also return Defensive Player of the Year Kelsey Lenney and second-team all-conference honoree Jenna Bostwick.
Colby-Sawyer College became the first NAC team to defeat Castleton since 2009 in last year's regular season finale, and was picked to finish second, earning the remaining three first place votes. The Chargers finished last season unbeaten at 8-0-1 before falling to Castleton in the NAC final. Colby-Sawyer will look to replace six starters lost due to graduation, but return two-time all-conference selection Adrienne Bender to lead reigning NAC Coach of the Year Meghan Medberry's offense.
Husson, UMaine-Farmington, and New England College rounded out the top five in the poll.
The season begins Friday, August 30 with conference action kicking off September 18.
2013 Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
|
1. |
Castleton |
97 (7) |
|
2. |
Colby-Sawyer |
91 (3) |
|
3. |
Husson |
79 |
|
4. |
U. Maine-Farmington |
72 |
|
5. |
New England College |
55 |
|
6. |
Johnson State |
42 |
|
7. |
Maine Maritime |
40 |
|
8. |
Thomas |
32 |
|
9. |
Lyndon |
26 |
|
10. |
Green Mountain |
16 |
