Saint Rose ranks atop the NE10 Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Poll for the first time since the 2015 season, tallying 166 points and 10 first-place votes to lead all Conference programs. Stonehill and Southern New Hampshire came in second and third, respectively, while five teams overall earned at least one first-place tally.
The NE10 Women's Soccer Championship is scheduled for Sunday, November 14, while the quarterfinals and semifinals are set for Sunday, November 7, and Thursday, November 11, respectively. All games will be live on NE10 NOW.
NO. 1 SAINT ROSE
Saint Rose looks to build off its success from the 2019 season, which saw the program win the NE10 Championship and advance to the national semifinals for the seventh time in program history. The Golden Knights, led by Laurie Darling Gutheil in her 26th season as head coach, open their 2021 campaign on Friday, September 3, against Caldwell. On Sunday, September 5, Saint Rose gets a big test when it travels to play Jefferson – a top-10 program in the United Soccer Coaches’ Preseason Poll.
The first NE10 contest for Saint Rose is scheduled at Saint Anselm on Sunday, September 12, the beginning of a 13-match conference slate. The Golden Knights will play at Stonehill on Saturday, October 2, and host Southern New Hampshire on Saturday, October 23, in a pair of league matchups that could have a major impact in the standings.
Saint Rose enters the season with eight NE10 titles in program history – tied with Franklin Pierce for the most among any league institution.
Key Returning Players
- Olivia Boucher (F/M) – NE10 Rookie of the Year and All-Conference First Team (2019); Ranked second in the league in goals (14) and points (34).
- Marika Laurendeau (GK) – United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American (2019); NE10 Goalkeeper of the Year and All-Conference First Team (2019).
NO. 2 STONEHILL
With 138 points in the Coaches’ Poll, Stonehill edged Southern New Hampshire for the second spot, as the Skyhawks come off a 2019 season where they qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history. Head coach Alex Wilson begins her ninth season and the program opens its 2021 campaign against Molloy at home on Sunday, September 5.
The Skyhawks host New Haven on Friday, September 10, to begin NE10 play. One of the toughest stretches of the season for Stonehill will be September 29 and October 2, where it hosts Southern New Hampshire and Saint Rose in back-to-back contests. Shortly after on October 13, Stonehill will travel to play top-10 Jefferson.
Stonehill has 25 wins over the past two seasons – the second-most of any NE10 program in that time, trailing only Saint Rose. The Skyhawks went 12-5-4 (8-1-4 NE10) and finished second in the NE10 in 2019.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Camryn Thompson (F) – All-Conference Second Team (2019); Tied for 10th in the league with 18 points in 2019.
- Emma Slade (M) – All-Conference First Team and All-Rookie Team (2019); Scored five goals during the 2019 season.
- Megan Giambanco (F/D) – Fifth on the team with 13 points (five goals, three assists) in 2019.
NO. 3 SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE
Southern New Hampshire recorded 136 points in the Coaches’ Poll, finishing narrowly behind Stonehill in the top-three among all NE10 women’s soccer programs. The Penmen will open their 2021 campaign against Bridgeport – the 2018 Division II NCAA champion – on Friday, September 3.
Conference play begins for SNHU at home against Adelphi on Sunday, September 12, and later includes a key matchup on the road against league-favorite Saint Rose on Saturday, October 23. The Penmen are one of only two NE10 programs (Saint Rose) to win at least 10 games in each of the past five seasons, which includes a 10-6-2 mark in 2019.
Head coach Elie Monteiro returns for his eighth season with the Penmen and will seek the program’s first NE10 title since 2017.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Sydney Carney (F/M) – All-Conference Second Team (2019); Ranked seventh in the NE10 with 21 points in 2019.
- Allyson Patterson (M) – All-Conference First team (2019); Tied for fourth in scoring among all NE10 players with 25 points in 2019.
NO. 4 ADELPHI
Adelphi was edged out by Southern New Hampshire for third place in the NE10 Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Poll, settling for fourth with 135 points and one first-place vote from the league’s head coaches. The Panthers will open on the road against Wilmington (Del.) on Sunday, September 5.
Coming off a 9-5-3 (8-3-2 NE10) season and a third-place finish in the Conference standings in 2019, Adelphi opens NE10 play with a tough road matchup against SNHU on Sunday, September 12. The schedule also includes a non-conference game against Division I Columbia on Tuesday, October 12.
Head coach Brooke DeRosa enters her seventh season with the program and looks to lead the Panthers to their first NE10 title since 2015.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Sarah Hofmeier (GK) – Started in six games and earned two wins in 2019.
- Jacklyn Lada (F) – Accounted for five points (two goals, one assist) in 2019 season.
- Hailey Franco (F) – All-Conference Third Team and All-Rookie Team (2019).
NO. 5 BENTLEY
Bentley recorded 105 points and one first-place vote to earn the fifth spot in the NE10 Coaches’ Poll, as the Falcons prepare to open the 2021 season with three non-conference matches against Molloy on September 3, Wilmington (Del.) on September 8 and Holy Family on September 11.
Following the non-league games, Bentley will have 13-straight conference matchups – beginning at New Haven on Wednesday, September 15. The Falcons finished in fourth place of the NE10 standings during 2019, advancing to the league semifinals before losing to eventual champion Saint Rose.
Head coach Lauren Lukis enters her 19th season at the helm for Bentley.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Kat Hassapis (GK) – All-Conference Second Team (2019); Third in NE10 in save percentage (.817) in 2019.
- Dana Goulet (M) – All-Conference Second Team (2019); Recorded 11 points (five goals, one assist) during the 2019 season.
- Rebecca Nguyen (M) – Six points (two goals, two assists) in 18 games during 2019.
no. 6 FRANKLIN PIERCE
Franklin Pierce, under new head coach Matt Johnson, has earned sixth-place in the NE10 Coaches’ Poll with 103 points and one first-place vote. The Ravens, the 2018 NE10 Women’s Soccer champions, look to ascend back to the top of the league standings in 2021.
The Ravens open the campaign with non-conference matchups against Dominican (NY) on Friday, September 3, and St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday, September 4. Conference play begins at home against Stonehill on Wednesday, September 15.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Ciersten Palumbo (F) – Accounted for eight points (four goals) in 14 games during the 2019 season.
- Tess McKenzie (M) – Scored two goals in 10 games in 2019.
NO. 7 AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL
American International tallied 95 points and the remaining first-place vote in the Coaches’ Poll, becoming the fifth NE10 program to receive a first-place nod from the league’s head coaches. The Yellow Jackets advanced to the NE10 semifinals in the 2019 campaign, as part of a 7-9-3 (6-5-2 NE10) season under head coach Kevon Isa.
On the opening weekend of the season, AIC will play the College of Staten Island on Friday, September 3, and Mercy on Sunday, September 5, at the University of Bridgeport. Conference play begins on Saturday, September 11, at home against Assumption.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Tamara Zippin (GK) – Made 60 saves with a 1.17 goals against average in 15 games for AIC in the 2019 season.
- Trystin Burger (M) – All-Rookie Team (2019); Scored four goals in 17 games.
- Caroline Porter (F) – Made 15 appearances and scored twice in 2019.
NO. 8 SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT
Southern Connecticut, the 2019 NE10 runner-up, earned 93 points and the eighth-place spot in the Coaches’ Poll. The Owls, who made a run to the NE10 title game as the No. 7 seed in the league tournament, will open their 2021 slate against Mercy on Friday, September 3.
Conference play begins for SCSU at Adelphi on Wednesday, September 15, under head coach Adam Cohen. The Owls travel to play crosstown rival New Haven on Wednesday, October 20.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Allie Smith (GK) – Led the NE10 in save percentage (.847) in 2019 season.
- Amanda Dustin (D) – Scored a goal and appeared in 20 games in 2019.
- Nadine Hilkert (D) – All-Conference First Team (2019); Started in all 21 games during 2019.
- Kaitlyn D’Amico (M) – All-Conference Third Team (2019); Top goal and point scorer for SCSU in 2019.
NO. 9 PACE
Pace takes the ninth spot in the NE10 Coaches’ Poll, following a 2019 campaign where the Setters won the most regular-season games in program history - finishing 11-7-1 (6-6-1 NE10). The Setters open the 2021 season against Georgian Court.
NE10 play begins on Saturday, September 11, at home against Saint Michael’s, followed by road games at Le Moyne (Sept. 15) and Franklin Pierce (Sept. 18). Head coach Mike Winn enters his 22nd season with the program.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Cecilia Puentes (M) – All-Conference First Team and All-Rookie Team (2019); Third in NE10 in goals (12) and points (27) in 2019.
- Izzy Villar (M) – Accounted for seven points (two goals, three assists) in 19 games during the 2019 season.
NO. 10 SAINT ANSELM
Saint Anselm finished just behind Pace in the NE10 Coaches’ Poll, accumulating 80 points after a 7-3-7 (4-3-6 NE10) campaign that saw the Hawks narrowly miss a playoff spot in the NE10 Championship. The Hawks begin the 2021 season down in Florida to play Saint Leo on Friday, September 3, and Barry on Sunday, September 5.
Conference play begins for Saint Anselm at home against reigning NE10 champion Saint Rose on Sunday, September 12. Joel Bancroft enters his fifth season as head coach of the Hawks.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Megan Nguyen (M) – All-Rookie Team (2019); Started all 17 games in 2019.
- Liz Shaievitz (B) – Recorded five points (two goals, one assist) in 16 games in 2019.
NO. 11 ASSUMPTION
Assumption finished the 2019 season with a 7-4-5 record (4-4-5 NE10), just outside of the playoff mix for the NE10 Championship. Under new leadership this season with recently promoted head coach Chip Warner, the Greyhounds open the new campaign on the road at Holy Family on Saturday, September 4.
The Greyhounds begin conference play on Saturday, September 11, on the road at American International.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Addison Davis (D) – Notched an assist in 12 games as a freshman in 2019.
- Diana Bruggeman (M) – All-Conference Third Team (2019); Team-high 14 points (six goals, two assists) in 2019.
NO. 12 NEW HAVEN
New Haven will begin its 2021 season with an Opening Weekend Tournament in West Haven, Conn. The Chargers will compete against Post on Thursday, September 2, and Georgian Court on Sunday, September 5. NE10 play will start at Stonehill on Friday, September 10.
Head coach Laura Duncan enters her 12th season with the program.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Paige Davis (GK) – Led the NE10 in saves (128) in 2019.
- Mackenzie Myers (M) – Third on the team in points (13) in 2019.
- Emily Mendel (D) – Started all 17 games at defense in 2019.
NO. 13 LE MOYNE
Le Moyne starts the 2021 season at home against Lake Erie College on Saturday, September 4. The Dolphins begin NE10 play with consecutive home matches against Pace (Sept. 15) and Stonehill (Sept. 18).
Led by head coach Carrie Bonus in her sixth season, the Dolphins look to get back into the NE10 playoffs for the first time since Bonus’ inaugural season with the program in 2016.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Maddison Vine (F) – Tied for team-high with six points (two goals, two assists) in 2019 season.
- Ali Greco (M) – Started in 15 of 17 games; Four points on two goals during 2019 season.
NO. 14 SAINT MICHAEL'S
Saint Michael’s begins the 2021 season with three-consecutive home matches against Roberts Wesleyan (Sept. 2), Caldwell (Sept. 5) and Dominican (Sept. 8), before starting conference play at Pace on Saturday, September 11. The Purple Knights are led by Wendy Elles in her ninth season with the program.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Izzy Ruprecht (M) – All-Rookie Team (2019); Tied for second on the team in points scored during the 2019 season.
- Brooke Caragher (B) – Started all 17 games at defense in 2019.
Credits:
NE10 Women's Soccer Institutions