FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 22, 2016
Panthers Voted No. 1 by NE-10 Coaches
MANSFIELD, Mass. – The Adelphi Panthers have been picked to defend their Northeast-10 Conference title, as the NE-10 Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll was released by the league office on Monday.
For complete results of the poll, which is voted upon by the league's head coaches, please see below.
Adelphi, which garnered 193 points and 11 first-place votes, won its first-ever NE-10 Women's Soccer Championship in 2015 and finished the season 18-3-2 overall and 12-0-2 in conference play, picking up the conference regular season crown as well. The Panthers won 13 straight matches, including a 1-0 victory over Saint Rose in the NE-10 finals, before their season came to an end in a 2-1 heartbreaker to Bridgeport in the NCAA East Regional Championship.
Reigning NE-10 Coach of the Year Brooke DeRosa is slated to return some major pieces from the 2015 Adelphi squad, including Laura Gomez, last year's NE-10 and East Region Player of the Year, along with reigning Goalkeeper of the Year Anne Marie Ulliac and all-conference first-teamer Victoria Antonino.
Seven-time NE-10 Champion Saint Rose was selected as the No. 2 team in the poll with 184 points and the other four votes for first place. The Golden Knights earned an NCAA tournament berth last season and capped the season with an overall mark of 15-3-4 (12-2 NE-10). Leading the way once again for Saint Rose will be first team all-conference forward Morgan Burchhardt.
American International edged out Southern New Hampshire for the third spot, totaling 156 points, while the Penmen notched fourth with 155. Assumption was tabbed fifth with 139 points, Merrimack was sixth with 121, and Southern Connecticut came in at No. 7 with 118 points.
New Haven was eighth with 103 points, while Franklin Pierce (99 pts.) and Pace (92) concluded the top-10. Saint Anselm (11th – 62 pts.), Stonehill (12th – 57), Le Moyne (13th – 40), Bentley (14th – 34) and Saint Michael's (15th – 22) rounded out the remainder of the field.
The 2016 soccer season begins on Thursday, Sept. 1 for four NE-10 teams, while the other 11 open their schedules the following day. Adelphi and Saint Rose will square off on Oct. 12 in a rematch of the 2015 title match. The 2016 NE-10 Championship will begin with quarterfinals on Tuesday, Nov. 1, followed by semifinal contests on Friday, Nov. 4, while the title match is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 6.
2016 NE-10 Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll
1. Adelphi – 193 Pts. (11)
2. Saint Rose – 184 (4)
3. American Int'l – 156
4. So. New Hampshire – 155
5. Assumption – 139
6. Merrimack – 121
7. So. Connecticut – 118
8. New Haven – 103
9. Franklin Pierce – 99
10. Pace – 92
11. Saint Anselm – 62
12. Stonehill – 57
13. Le Moyne – 40
14. Bentley – 34
15. Saint Michael's – 22
(#) – indicates first-place votes
ABOUT THE NORTHEAST-10
The Northeast-10 Conference is an association of 15 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that is committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 6,500 student-athletes.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE-10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
