|
Patriot League Announces 2007 Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
Aug. 28, 2007
2007 Patriot League Women's Soccer Webguide
Following a vote taken by the Patriot League's eight head coaches and sports information directors, Navy was selected first in the 2007 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason Poll. The defending Patriot League Tournament champions received 12 first-place votes and 96 overall points. Coaches and sports information directors cannot vote for their own team. Defending Patriot League regular-season co-champion Bucknell notched the second spot in the poll, earning two first-place votes and 85 total points. Collecting the other two first-place goals were the Colgate Raiders, who also amassed a total of 75 points. Rounding out the rest of the preseason poll were Lehigh (63 points), American (48), Army (31), Lafayette (30), and Holy Cross (20). The Midshipmen had one of the best seasons in the history of the program in 2006, racking up 21 total victories, and coming one game shy of going undefeated in League play. Navy posted a victory in last year's NCAA Tournament, before falling to the eventual national champion, North Carolina. Head Coach Carin Gabarra received her second Patriot League BRINE Coach of the Year award in winning her second Patriot League championship. Navy boasts the League's top goalkeeper in Lizzie Barnes, as well as the reigning Patriot League BRINE Co-Defensive Player of the Year Shelly Moeller. Barnes, who was the 2006 Patriot League BRINE Goalkeeper of the Year, has been named to the Preseason watch list for the Hermann Trophy, given annually to the top women's soccer player in the nation. Bucknell earned a share of last season's regular-season crown with a defeat of Navy on the final day of the season. Bucknell welcomes back 16 members from a year ago, including All-Patriot League First Team members junior defender Nicole Marrotta and senior forward Krista Lee Gentile. Marrotta was also the 2006 Patriot League BRINE Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Since Patriot League play began back in the fall of 1990, the Colgate Raiders have provided the most consistency. The 10-time Patriot League champions once again find themselves amongst the League's best, following a year in which they once again reached the championship game. Head Coach Kathy Brawn has only recorded two sub-.500 records in her tenure at the school, including only one sub-.500 record in League play. Senior forward Franny Iacuzzi, a three-time All-Patriot League selection, will once again lead the offensive attack for the Raiders this year. The Lehigh Mountain Hawks reached the Patriot League Tournament in 2006, and are poised to do so again in 2007. Lehigh will rely on senior leadership and strong defense from Michaela Pawlewicz, who has been selected to the All-Patriot League First Team following the past two seasons. American welcomes back 16 letter winners from last season's squad, including seniors and co-captains Annette Scott and Irene Karistinos. Head Coach Michael Brady has had only one sub-.500 record in Patriot League play, and recorded the school's lone League championship back in 2003. The Army Black Knights will once again be under the direction of five-time Patriot League BRINE Coach of the Year Gene Ventriglia, who has recorded 243 victories in 21 seasons at West Point. Ventriglia's squad will have 16 letter winners returning from last year. Under the direction first year Head Coach Mick Statham, the Lafayette Leopards made strides in the right direction in 2006. The Leopards will look to keep that momentum going, and will be aided by the return of 18 letter winners, including seven starters. Senior co-captain Caroline Tuttle will once again be a factor for Lafayette. The Holy Cross Crusaders have the benefit of returning eight starters from last year's team. Senior co-captains Meighan Kelly and Alison Peters will be counted on by fourth-year Head Coach Deb Flaherty. The 2007 season will kick off on Friday, Aug. 31 with American, Army, Bucknell, Colgate, Lafayette, Lehigh and Navy in action. The 2007 Patriot League Tournament will take place Friday and Sunday, Nov. 9 and 11 at the site of the highest seed. For more information on Patriot League women's soccer refer to the 2007 Patriot League Women's Soccer Webguide. 2007 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
|
