NECC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll Announced

ATTLEBORO, Mass. - Lesley University has been tabbed as the preseason favorite to capture the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) women's soccer championship, it was announced today by Commissioner Del Malloy. Voting for the preseason poll was conducted among the NECC's head women's soccer coaches.

Women's soccer is the only fall sport that all NECC member institutions sponsor.

The Lesley Lynx (16-3-2, 7-1 NECC) received six of the nine first-place votes in the 2009 NECC preseason poll. The Lynx are led by head coach Paul Vasconcelos, the 2008 NECC Coach of the Year, who will return 17 players and nine starters.

The Lynx will be lead by five all-conference members including; First Team All NECC senior forward Jodi Fralick (Woburn, Mass.), NECC Rookie of the Year sophomore midfielder Jenna Fralick (Woburn, Mass.), First Team All NECC senior defender Cathryn Folkestad (Ipswich, Mass.), Second Team All NECC senior goalkeeper Hailee Lowe (Hamilton, Mass.) and Second Team All NECC junior midfielder Alyson Durben (Stow, Mass.).

Elms College was picked as the runner-up receiving three first-place votes. Elms won the 2008 NECC Championships in a 1-1 tie decided upon in the fifth round of penalty kicks.

Becker College garnered the number three spot with 56 points. While Daniel Webster College and Mitchell College received 52 and 45 points for the fourth and fifth place preseason poll finishes.

Teams received nine points for every first place vote received, eight points for second place votes, seven points for third place votes, down to one point for a last place vote. First place votes are shown in parentheses.

2009 NECC PRESEASON WOMEN'S SOCCER POLL

TEAM, POINTS (1st Place votes)

Lesley, 78(6)

Elms, 75(3)

Becker, 56

Daniel Webster, 52

Mitchell, 45

Bay Path, 41

Wheelock, 25

Newbury, 17

Southern Vermont, 16  

Courtesy: NECC Athletic Communications