Aug. 21, 2008
2008 Patriot League Women's Soccer Webguide
Center Valley, Pa. - The United States Naval Academy was chosen to win the 2008 Patriot League Women's Soccer Championship in a vote by head coaches and sports information directors. The defending Patriot League champions received four first-place votes and 88 overall points. Coaches and sports information directors cannot vote for their own teams.
After earning the top seed in the 2007 Patriot League Tournament, Bucknell follows closely behind Navy, garnering eight first-place votes and 86 overall points. Colgate was selected to take third place in the conference and received 72 overall points and one first-place vote. American received the remaining three first-place votes and was selected to finish fourth in the conference with 70 overall points. Rounding out the rest of the preseason poll are Lehigh (49), Army (42), Holy Cross (23) and Lafayette (18).
Coaches and sports information directors also voted for Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year for the first time. Bucknell's Jennifer Dervarics was selected as the Preseason Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, while Navy's Shelly Moeller received the nod for Preseason Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year.
Last season, the Midshipmen won 14 games with a conference-high 11 shutouts. Goalkeeper Lizzie Barnes, who posted eight shutouts in 21 games played, is one of eight starters returning to the team. Fifteen members of last year's team return for the Midshipmen. The 2007 team was second in goals per game with a 1.78 average. The 2007 squad was defeated in the first round of the NCAA tournament, losing 4-0 to West Virginia.
Bucknell finished in first place in the regular season in 2007, but lost 1-0 to the Mids in the Patriot League Championship. Bucknell returns 10 starters from last year's team, including 2007 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Jennifer Dervarics. The 2007 Bison squad had a high-powered offense, leading the conference in goals (44) and coming in second in assists (37) and shots (310).
Colgate returns 17 letterwinners and seven starters from last year's club. The Raiders were 10-8-1 overall and 3-4-0 in conference play last season. The Raiders return First-Team All-Patriot League midfielder Jillian Arnault and Second-Team All-Patriot League selection Jessica Bitsack.
American welcomes new Head Coach David Bucciero to the team this season. Bucciero, who formerly coached at Boston University, will benefit from having 2007 Patriot League Rookie of the Year Friederike Engel and 2007 Goalkeeper of the Year Kelsey Wiggins back for the 2008 campaign.
Fifteen letter winners and seven starters are returning this season for Lehigh. Head Coach Manny Oudin's squad finished sixth in the Patriot League last season, with a 2-3-2 record.
Army Head Coach Gene Ventriglia is entering his final season on the sidelines at Clinton Field. Ventriglia will be succeeded by Associate Head Coach Stefanie Golan at the end of the season. The Cadets finished last season with a 7-8-3 overall record, and were fourth in the conference at 3-2-2.
Holy Cross Head Coach Deb Cox welcomes eight starters back to her club. The Crusaders finished seventh in the conference in 2007 with a 4-14-0 overall record and 2-5-0 record in conference play.
Lafayette went winless in Patriot League play last season, but is looking to turn things around with 16 members of last year's team returning to the pitch. The Leopards' overall record last season was 3-14-0.
Dervarics, the 2007 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, was also selected as a First-Team All-Patriot League Team performer that year. The Bison senior forward scored 13 goals in 21 games last season and was second in the conference in goals and points.
Navy defender Shelly Moeller received Second-Team All-Patriot League honors last season in leading Navy to the Patriot League title.
The Patriot League season begins Friday with Bucknell visiting UMBC in first of six games of non-League action this weekend.
For more information, refer to the 2008 Patriot League Women's Soccer Webguide.
2008 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
| Rank | Team | Points (First-Place Votes) | 2007 Overall Record | 2007 League Record |
| 1. | Navy | 88 (4) | 14-5-4 | 4-1-2 |
| 2. | Bucknell | 86 (8) | 11-8-2 | 5-1-1 |
| 3. | Colgate | 72 (1) | 11-8-2 | 4-4-0 |
| 4. | American | 70 (3) | 10-6-3 | 4-0-3 |
| 5. | Lehigh | 49 | 7-7-4 | 2-3-2 |
| 6. | Army | 42 | 7-8-3 | 3-2-2 |
| 7. | Holy Cross | 23 | 4-14-0 | 2-5-0 |
| 8. | Lafayette | 18 | 3-14-0 | 0-7-0 |
2008 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason Awards
Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Jennifer Dervarics, Bucknell
Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Shelly Moeller, Navy
