Women's Soccer Picked To Repeat In NEC Coaches Poll
The Central Connecticut women's soccer team has been selected to defend its Northeast Conference championship from 2014 as they were pocked as the favorite in the 2015 NEC Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Central Connecticut women's soccer team has been selected to defend its Northeast Conference championship from a year ago as they were picked as the favorite in the 2015 NEC Preseason Coaches Poll, the league announced on Monday afternoon. CCSU earned the top spot on the list after receiving six of the nine potential first place votes.
OFFICIAL NEC COACHES POLL RELEASE
After capturing their eighth Northeast Conference title in program history last season, the Blue Devils find themselves on top of the NEC Preseason Coaches Poll for the first time since the beginning of the 2009 season. That year they went on to win the NEC regular season crown, but fell to Monmouth 1-0 in overtime of the championship game in New Britain.
Central finished third in the regular season standings in 2014 with an overall record of 11-5-4 and 4-2-2 mark in NEC play. Their play at home was crucial to their success, finishing with a home record of 7-1-3, including an undefeated mark of 3-0-1 against Northeast Conference opponents.
In the NEC Tournament, CCSU first topped second-seeded Wagner 2-1 in overtime of the semifinal match before taking down the first seed Fairleigh Dickinson Knights 2-0 to win their eighth NEC title. They went on to face Harvard in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Blue Devils lose their top goal scorer and 2014 NEC Player of the Year in Tori Sousa, but return key players such as sophomore Jennifer Cafferky (2014 Rookie & Defensive Player of the Year), junior Nicki Turley (2014 Goalkeeper of the Year) and junior Kelly Halligan (2014 First-Team All-NEC). The Blue Devils will also look toward seniors Charlie Branch (2014 NEC Tournament MVP), Cailynn Harding and Claire Walsh to lead CCSU back to the NEC title game once again this season.
Central opens the 2015 campaign at the Fairfield Tournament where they will begin the season against Stony Brook on Friday, August 28. Their home opener will take place on Friday, September 11 at 7 p.m. against Boston University on the CCSU Soccer Field. A link to the women's soccer full schedule can be found here.
