New Hampshire Tops Tight 2018 #AEWSOC Preseason Poll
BOSTON – The upcoming #AEWSOC season sets up to be one of the most competitive in conference history according to the 2018 preseason coaches’ poll that features New Hampshire at the top for the first time since 2015, just five points separating the top three teams and four squads receiving first-place votes. The voting was conducted by the conference’s nine head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own teams.
New Hampshire, which shared the conference’s regular-season crown with Binghamton last season, narrowly edged out reigning league champion Stony Brook after garnering 57 points and four first-place votes. The Seawolves, which captured last year’s America East title as the #5 seed with a 2-1 win over Vermont, earned three first-place votes and totaled 54 points. The Bearcats, who earned a share of the regular-season crown for the first time since 2004 last year, received one first-place tally and came in third place with 52 points while Hartford earned the final first-place vote and was fourth with 44 points. It’s the first time in at least 20 seasons that just five points separated the top three teams in the poll and only 13 points split the top four squads.
Here is the full poll:
2018 America East Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll
No. School Points (1st Place Votes)
1. New Hampshire 57 (4)
2. Stony Brook 54 (3)
3. Binghamton 52 (1)
4. Hartford 44 (1)
5. UAlbany 36
6. Vermont 34
7. UMass Lowell 20
8. Maine 18
9. UMBC 9
Twenty-nine players who earned All-Conference or All-Rookie status last year will be back in 2018, including eight first-team All-America East selections. Among those eight, all five major award winners return, including Binghamton’s Kayla Saager (Striker of the Year), Hartford’s Sierra Stone (Midfielder of the Year), Albany’s Caroline Kopp (Defender of the Year), New Hampshire’s Mia Neas (Goalkeeper of the Year) and Stony Brook’s Sofia Manner (Rookie of the Year).
Women's soccer is the first fall sport to kick off in the NCAA with games beginning on Thursday, Aug. 16. The 36-game conference slate starts on Sunday, Sept. 24 and runs through Sunday, Oct. 23. The top six teams in the standings will qualify for the America East Championship with all games taking place at the higher seed on Thursday, Oct. 25 (quarterfinals), Sunday, Oct. 28 (semifinals) and Saturday, Nov. 3 or Sunday, Nov. 4 (championship game).
About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.
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