2009 WOMEN'S SOCCER
PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
 


 PENN STATE ALTOONA CHOSEN
TO REPEAT AS AMCC CHAMPS
 


Penn State Altoona has been selected by the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference coaches to successfully defend their 2008 title this season.  Frostburg State University, a five-time titlist, was chosen to finish second, and Penn State Behrend, which has worn the league crown six times, was ranked #3.

Preseason Player of the Year honors were awarded to Penn State Altoona forward Emily Reimold  (Shrewsbury, PA/Susquehannock).  The sophomore started all 20 games in 2008, tallying 19 goals and 7 assists to break the Lions' single season goal-scoring record.  She was voted first team All-AMCC and conference Newcomer of the Year and was a second team NSCAA All-Great Lakes selection.

This season the conference welcomes D'Youville College to its ranks; the Spartans were previously members of the North Eastern Athletic Conference.  The AMCC kicks off conference play on Saturday, September 19, and the championship will be Saturday, November 7, hosted by the number #1 seed.  The winner will receive the AMCC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
 

AMCC WOMEN'S SOCCER POLL
2009 Preseason Rankings*

1. Penn State Altoona (1)
2. Frostburg State (2)
3. Penn State Behrend (5)
4. La Roche (4)
5. Medaille (3)
6. Pitt-Greensburg (7)
7. Franciscan (6)
8. Hilbert (7)
9. Pitt-Bradford (7)
10. Mount Aloysius (10)
11. D'Youville (N/A)

* Number in parentheses is order of regular season finish in 2008


Preseason Player of the Year
EMILY REIMOLD, PENN ST. ALTOONA
 

OTHER PLAYERS TO WATCH...

D'YOUVILLE COLLEGE
Head Coach Lew Porter (1st year)
2008:  5-10-1 overall


Sophomore M Stephanie Lozzi (Youngstown, NY/Lewiston-Porter)...First-Team NEAC…set team records for goals (7) and points (18) by a freshman…led team is shots (67).

Junior GK Sandra McKeen (Mississauga, ONT/Sheridan)...First-Team NEAC and NEAC Goalkeeper of the Year…set single-season team records for save percentage (.738) and goals against average (2.67).
 

FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY
Head Coach Johann Marin (1st year)
2008:   4-5 AMCC, 10-8-1 overall


Senior GK Nikki Traylor (Houston, TX/Lamar HS)...Posted a 1.42 GAA last season, making 103 Saves (.824 save percentage)..racked up 8 wins including 5 shutouts...voted to the All-Conference Sportsmanship team...member of the Academic All-Conference team.

Sophomore M Clare Grechen (Clearwater, FL/Clearwater Central Catholic)...Transfer from St. Francis University...expected to make an immediate impact.
 

FROSTBURG STATE UNIVERSITY
Head Coach Brian Parker (7th year)
2007:  8-1 AMCC, 16-5-1 overall


Senior M Lauren Lentine (Princeton, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro North)...2008 AMCC Player of the Year...started all 22 games, finishing second on the team in scoring with 6 goals and 5 assists...FSU MVP.

Junior F Lauren Russell (Waldorf, MD/Westlake)...First team all-AMCC last season...Bobcats' scoring leader with 12 goals (4 game-winners) and 6 assists.
 

HILBERT COLLEGE
Head Coach James Ruggiero (11th year)
2008: 2-7 AMCC,  6-11 overall


Se
nior M Maggie Fage (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem)...Team captain...started all 17 games last season...scored 4 goals and 1 assist...three-time member of conference all-academic team.

Sophomore M Alyssa Hulbert (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East)...All-conference honorable mention selection in 2008...tallied 5 goals and 10 assists for 20 points in as 17-game starter. 
 

LA ROCHE COLLEGE
Head Coach Miguel Lozano (13th year)
2008:  6-2-1 AMCC, 12-7-2 overall


Senior D Jessica Leo (Freedom, PA/Ambridge)...Named to the AMCC all-conference team for past three seasons..

Senior F Cristina Perelli (White Oak, PA/McKeesport)...Second team all-AMCC in 2008...scored 9 goals and 7 assists for 25 points...2 game winning goals to her credit.
 

MEDAILLE COLLEGE
Head Coach Matt Andrews (2nd year)
2008:  7-2 AMCC, 12-9-1 overall


Senior F Laura Freeman (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore West)...First team all-conference last season...second in conference in goals and fourth in overall goals scored...fourth in AMCC and overall in points in just 7 conference contests and 13 games overall...also led the league in game-winning goals.

Junior D Katie Bush  (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown)...Strong ball winner who led an outstanding defense in 2008.
 

MOUNT ALOYSIUS COLLEGE
Head Coach Barry Snyder (2nd year)
2008:  0-9 AMCC, 2-12-1 overall


Sophomore M Kasey Benton (Altoona, PA/Altoona Area)...Team's top returning defender...started all  13 games last season...had one assist in 2008.

Junior M Nikki Stuller (Duncansville, PA/Central)...Started 12 games in the midfield for the Mounties...led the teams in goals scored and points.
 

PENN STATE ALTOONA
Head Coach Tim Wassell (3rd year)
2008:  8-0-1 AMCC, 17-1-2 overall


Senior D Kelly White (West Chester, PA/Villa Maria Academy)...Appeared and started in all 20 games…first team all-AMCC and third team NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region.

Sophomore F Emily Reimold  (Shrewsbury, PA/Susquehannock)...Started all 20 games in 2008, tallied 19 goals and 7 assists to break the Penn State Altoona single season goal-scoring record...first team all-AMCC and Newcomer of the Year...second team NSCAA All-Great Lakes.
 

PENN STATE BEHREND
Head Coach Patrick O'Driscoll (6th year)
2008:  5-4 AMCC, 7-12-1 overall


 Junior D Kelly Thill (Wexford, PA/Pine Richland HS)...AMCC honorable mention last season...started in all 20 games earning 1 goal...team MVP in 2008 as a sophomore...highly skilled player with excellent leadership.

 Junior M Caitlyn Elser (Cranberry Twp, PA/Seneca Valley)...AMCC honorable mention selection in 2008... earned 8 goals and 1 assist, starting in all 20 games...ranked third in team in points, tied first for goals scored...excellent team player who can play both as a midfielder and forward.
 

PITT-BRADFORD
Head Coach Mike Idland (2nd year)
2008:  2-7 AMCC, 5-12-1 overall


Senior F Michelle Centola (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia)...Scored 2 goals in 2008.

Senior M Stefanie Herrmann (St. Louis, MO/Lindbergh)...Tallied 1 goal last season.
 

PITT-GREENSBURG
Head Coach Harry Jennings (2nd year)
2008:  2-7 AMCC, 3-13-2 overall


Sophomore D Lindsey West (Delmont, PA/Franklin Regional)...Transfer from Edinboro...hard tackler and excellent distributor of the ball...looks to anchor a refurbished Bobcats' back line.