MCLA Women selected sixth in MASCAC preseason soccer poll

Westfield, Mass.—The Westfield State Owls have been picked to win the 2014 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference women's soccer championship as selected by the coaches from around the league.

The Owls, who earned six of seven first place votes for 48 points, return several of their players from the 2013 squad, including MASCAC All-Conference honorees Ashleigh Chretien, Sarah Sypek, Katy Knight and Melissa Kulik. Sypek finished the season with 26 points on 18 goals and two assists while Chretein netted 11 points on two goals and seven assists.

Landing in the second slot is Worcester State, who nabbed 37 points in the poll. The Lancers closed out 2013 with a trip to the MASCAC title game and ECAC Tournament appearance. Alicia Macomber led the team with 20 points on nine goals and two assists. Teammate Shelby Archer, MASCAC Second Team All-Conference honoree, returns after a four goal and eight assist effort last season.

Reigning MASCAC tournament champion Bridgewater State was picked to finish third with the final two first place votes for 35 points. Tournament  MVP Mackenzie Hatfield returns for the Bears after a sophomore season that saw her with 28 points on nine goals and 10 assists. 

Rounding out the top five are Framingham State and Salem State with 34 and 29 points, respectively. The Rams were the 2013 MASCAC regular season champions with a 6-0-1 conference record behind reigning MASCAC Player of the Year Kayla Austin. Having lost Austin to graduation, Framingham State looks to Marisa Parent, who finished the 2013 campaign with 41 points on 18 goals and five assists. Salem State ended the 2013 season with a 3-3-1 conference mark. The Vikings bring back sophomore Leah Wood, who led the team in scoring with seven goals and was named to the MASCAC All-Conference Second Team.

MCLA was selected to finish sixth in the conference with 20 points. Reigning MASCAC Freshman of the Year Natalie Caney returns to the pitch for the Trailblazers after a freshman season that tallied 17 goals and two assists for 36 points to lead the team.

Closing out the 2014 pre-season poll are Fitchburg State and Massachusetts Maritime in seventh and eighth, respectively. The Falcons tallied 14 points while the Buccaneers collected seven. Fitchburg State returns Kayla Bridgespr, who led the team in scoring with five goals and two assists for 12 points. Massachusetts Maritime MASCAC First Team All-Conference goalie Katie Levesque returns after a 2013 campaign that saw the sophomore lead the MASCAC in saves at 175 and save percentage at .829.

MCLA, Westfield State and Worcester State kickoff the 2014 season with non-conference play on August 30. 

The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the nation's oldest Division III men's and women's playing conference, has a rich and storied tradition of competitive success while celebrating excellence in the classroom.  MASCAC member schools include Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University.  Two other institutions, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Plymouth State University, are affiliate members of the conference in the sports of football and men's ice hockey, while Western Connecticut State University joined the conference as an affiliate member in football beginning in 2013. 

2014 MASCAC Women's Soccer Pre-Season Coaches Poll

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

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