Women's Soccer selected sixth in MASCAC preseason poll

Westfield, Mass.— The MCLA Women's Soccer program was selected to finish sixth in the MASCAC preseason poll that was announced this afternoon by the league's coaching staff.  The Trailblazers won a pair of league games last season and appeared in the MASCAC quarterfinals.  The Trailblazers open up play on August 31st.

 

Westfield State, the 2017 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament champions have been selected by the eight coaches from around the conference to defend their tournament crown during the 2018 season.

 

The Owls landed in first with three first place votes for 45 points in this year's poll. They earned a share of the 2017 regular season title with Bridgewater State and Worcester State after all three finished 6-1 in league action. Reigning MASCAC Player of the Year Bella Eduardo returns after netting 14 goals and six assists, including four game-winners for the Owls. Joining her is teammate Marissa McGue who tallied 14 points on five goals and four assists, including four game winning goals on her way to MASCAC All-Conference honors.

 

Tied for second with 42 points are Bridgewater State and Worcester State. The Bears collected three first place votes while the Lancers had the final two. The All-Conference defensive duo of Kaitlyn Bongarzone and Molly Shield helped the Bears limit opponents to 6.7 shots on goal per game and helped produce seven shutouts and a team goals against average of 0.98. All-Conference defender Justine Butler returns after helping the Lancers lead the league with a 0.87 GAA and only allowing 17 goals on the year. Teammate Kaitlyn Beluzo led the squad with 20 points on nine goals and two assists plus four game-winners on her way to earning All-Conference accolades.

 

Sitting in fourth with 29 points is Salem State. The Vikings were 4-3 during MASCAC play. Ashley Leboeuf tallied four goals and three assists for 11 points, including three game-winners for the squad during the 2017 campaign to earn a spot on the All-Conference team.

 

Framingham State is fifth with 20 points. The Rams collected two wins last season. Returning on defense is All-Conference honoree Erin Angelillo who helped the team hold their opponents to a 2.50 goals against average with two shutouts during the 2017 season.

Coming up next in sixth is MCLA with 20 points. The Trailblazers had two wins during the MASCAC campaign in 2017. Back between the pipes is Megan Richardson who led the league with 139 saves and the fifth-best save percentage at .790 on her way to earning All-Conference honors.

 

Finishing out the 2018 women's soccer poll in seventh and eighth are Fitchburg State and Massachusetts Maritime with 16 and 12 points, respectively. The Falcons' Brittny Peralta netted three goals and an assist for seven points, including a game-winner during play last season. For the Buccaneers, All-Conference forward Madison Taylor returns after leading the conference in goals with 18 and points with 37 while also netting three game-winning goals in 2017.

 

The MASCAC women's soccer teams will start the 2018 campaign Labor Day weekend with non-conference play.

 

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.

 

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

 

1. Westfield State (3)      45 points

2. Bridgewater State (3) 42 points

    Worcester State (2)    42 points

4. Salem State                29 points

5. Framingham State      20 points

6. MCLA                          18 points

7. Fitchburg State           16 points

8. MMA                            12 points