2009 Skyline Women's Soccer Preseason Poll

August 28, 2009

The Sage College women's soccer team was tapped sixth in the race for the 2009 Skyline Conference Championship with the release of the preseason poll.

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. - Coming off two straight Skyline Conference championships and NCAA Tournament bids, Farmingdale State College has been selected by the head coaches as the conference's preseason favorite in women's soccer.

The Rams had a young team in 2008 and opened the season by going 2-8 against a competitive schedule. But head coach Chris Roche's squad won 10 of its final 11 games en route to the conference championship. Three of Farmingdale State's top four scorers were freshmen last season. Katrina Cerverizzo recorded team highs of 14 goals (four game-winning goals) and 30 points as a rookie. Brittany Williams, the MVP of the Skyline Conference championship game, scored seven goals while Rebecca Richman added six. Senior Tricia Pickford paced the Rams with 11 assists.

St. Joseph's College, which won a school-record 14 games last season and went a perfect 9-0 during Skyline regular-season play. The Golden Eagles, who were picked second this season, return a small roster, but have a number of talented players. Senior Angie Merante, the team's leading scorer with 13 goals last season, was the Skyline Player of the Year in 2007 when she scored 15 goals. Senior goalkeeper Dana Carney and senior forward Jackie Barbour were also All-Skyline selections last season as was sophomore midfielder Kaitlin Arthurs.

Bard College was picked third after finishing in the same position last season. Bill Kelly's squad will be young, consisting primarily of freshmen and sophomores. The Raptors lost two outstanding players in graduated seniors Abbie Paris and Mozhdeh Zahedi, both All-Skyline first-team selections. Sophomores Erin Hannigan and Kim Larie, who both earned All-Skyline honors as freshmen, will anchor the young, but talented team.

Mount Saint Mary, which returns five all-conference players in seniors Christina Patterson and Danielle Bucco, juniors Megan Cotta and Kristen Maggio, and sophomore Erin McKeon, should also be a factor in the conference race.

Sage is coming off a season that saw the women's soccer team earn the program's first-ever ECAC Tournament bid after garnering their second straight Skyline Conference tournament appearance. By season's end, the team had a 7-8-3 overall record with a 5-3-1 mark in league play.

As a sophomore, midfielder Ashley Allain (Stillwater, NY/Stillwater) earned a spot on the 2008 Skyline Conference All-Star First-Team. She was the team's second leading scorer after tallying 11 points on three goals and five assists. In her rookie season, Rebecca Marszalek (Adams, MA/Hoosack Valley) would add her name to the program's record book after a five-goal outing in the team's 9-0 win over the College of Mount Saint Vincent. By season's end, she led the team with 14 goals and three assists, good enough for 31 points, which was fourth highest amongst the league's players last year.

Now in his ninth season with the Gators, Barry Balkwell brings a talented roster to campus this fall with high expectations for another return to post-season play by year's end.

SKYLINE CONFERENCE WOMEN'S SOCCER 2009 PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

1. Farmingdale State      (5) 76


2. St. Joseph's-L.I.         (3) 68


3. Bard                                62


4. Mount Saint Mary       (1) 58


5. Old Westbury             (1) 54


6. Sage                                42


7. Purchase                         39


8. Maritime                          22


9. Mount Saint Vincent        20


10. Yeshiva                           9

(first-place votes in parentheses)