AMCC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll

2010 WOMEN'S SOCCER
PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

PENN STATE BEHREND CHOSEN
TO WIN AMCC TITLE

Penn State Behrend, which has won the league crown six times and was the regular season champion in 2009, has been voted by the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference coaches to rule the league in 2010. Penn State Altoona, the 2008 champion, was selected as the runner up, and Medaille College was picked to finish third.

Preseason Player of the Year honors are shared by a pair of midfielders: Penn St. Altoona junior Elizabeth Watt (Harleysville, PA/Souderton), left, and Hilbert College junior Alyssa Hulbert (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East), right. Watt was a first team All-AMCC selection last season and was also named a first team All-ECAC South Region all star. She was ranked second on the team in both assists (8) and goals (9). Hulbert was a second team all-conference player in 2009. Voted the team's MVP, she ranked second on the squad in scoring (14 points) and first in assists (6), also earning academic all-conference team honors.

The AMCC kicks off conference play on Saturday, September 25, and the championship will be Saturday, November 6, hosted by the number #1 seed. The winner will receive the AMCC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

AMCC WOMEN'S SOCCER POLL
2010 Preseason Rankings*

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

* Number in parentheses is order of regular season finish in 2009

CO-PRESEASON PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Elizabeth Watt, Penn State Altoona
Alyssa Hulbert, Hilbert College

D'YOUVILLE COLLEGE Head Coach Lew Potter (2nd year) 2009: 1-9 AMCC, 3-12 overall
Junior F/M Stephanie Lozzi (Youngstown, NY/Lewiston-Porter)...Led team with 5 goals, 2 assists in 2009 while battling injuries. Sophomore GK/D Brelin Shea (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta)...1 win (shutout) and 1 loss as starting GK in 2009...played 13 games as starting defender...will be replacing the graduating Sandra McKeen in goal, holder of numerous school GK records.
FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY Head Coach Johann Marin (2nd year) 2009: 4-6 AMCC, 6-10-1 overall
Sophomore M Kelly O'Brien (North Olmstead, OH)...Team MVP in 2009...team co-leader in goals scored with 4. Junior M Clare Grchen (Clearwater, FL/Clearwater Central Catholic)...Scored 3 goals and 2 assists last season.
HILBERT COLLEGE Head Coach James Ruggiero (12th year) 2009: 4-6 AMCC, 7-10-2 overall
Junior M Alyssa Hulbert (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East)...Second team all- conference in 2009...team MVP..ranked second on the team in scoring (14 points) and first in assists (6)...earned academic all-conference team honors. Junior F Kayla Norman (Hamlin, NY/Brockport)...Honorable mention All-AMCC last season.. team leader in scoring (25 points) and goals (11)...member of academic all-conference team.
LA ROCHE COLLEGE Head Coach Miguel Lozano (13th year) 2009: 5-4-1 AMCC, 11-9-1 overall
Sophomore F Bethanie Moreschi (Pittsburgh, PA/North Hills)...All-Conference second team last season...led the Redhawks in scoring as a freshman with 16 goals and 13 assists (45 points). Junior GK Raelene Zajac (Freedom, PA/Freedom)…2009 All-AMCC second team selection…1.28 GAA with 6 shutouts.
MEDAILLE COLLEGE Head Coach Matt Andrews (3rd year) 2009: 7-2-1 AMCC, 10-9-2 overall
Senior F Katie Bush (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown)...Strong ball winner who has been dominant at three different positions in her first three years...second team all-conference as a sophomore. Senior D/M Mary Smialek (Girard, PA/Girard)...Tough defender with good distribution skills and a quality finisher.
MOUNT ALOYSIUS COLLEGE Head Coach Barry Snyder (3rd year) 2009: 1-9 AMCC, 1-17 overall
Junior M Nicola Johnson (Altoona, PA/Great Commission)...Team’s top returning defender...tecorded 35 saves in 6 starts in goal...also played 12 games in the field, starting at sweeper.
PENN STATE ALTOONA Head Coach Pam Snyder (1st year) 2009: 7-2-1 AMCC, 18-4-2 overall
Junior M Elizabeth Watt (Harleysville, PA/Souderton)...First team All-AMCC selection last season...also voted first team All-ECAC South Region all star...ranked second on the team in both assists (8) and goals (9). Junior F Nikki Supsic (Northumberland, PA/Shikellamy)...Named to the all-conference second team...third on the team in both assists (7) and goals (8).
PENN STATE BEHREND Head Coach Dan Mudd (1st year) 2009: 9-0-1 AMCC, 14-4-4 overall
Senior D Kelly Thill (Wexford, PA/Pine-Richland HS)...First team all-conference team member in 2009...led a defense with a .56 GAA. Sophomore M Valerie Wager (Pittsburgh, PA/Montour)...Led the Behrend Lions in scoring as a freshman with 8 goals and 5 assists...named first team All-AMCC.
PITT-BRADFORD Head Coach Mike Idland (3rd year) 2009: 5-5 AMCC, 10-9 overall
Junior F Lindsay Sherman (Bradford, PA/Bradford Area)...Contributed 7 goals and 2 assists to finish as the team's second leading scorer in 2009. Senior M Courtney Hodgins (Fayetteville, GA/Alexander)...Stepped up with 3 goals and 2 assists last season.
PITT-GREENSBURG Head Coach Harry Jennings (3rd year) 2009: 1-9 AMCC, 2-15 overall
Junior D Lindsey West (Delmont, PA/Franklin Regional)...Only played 74 minutes in 2009 due to injury in first match; rehabilitated and will lead re-vamped back line. Senior M Colleen Burick (Erie, PA/Iroquois)...Returning captain projected to resume her natural midfield position.