EDISON, NJ ?“ Loyola College, which has won the MAAC women?™s soccer championship for the past five years, has been picked to win the conference title once again this season in a preseason poll voted on by the league?™s 10 head coaches.

Loyola finished with 98 points in the poll, 19 points ahead of second-place Siena College (79). Rider University was picked third with 74 points, and Fairfield University and Iona College tied for fourth place with 71 points each. Niagara University placed sixth (51), followed by Marist College (37), Manhattan College (28), Canisius College (24) and Saint Peter?™s College (17).

Loyola?™s Ali Andrzejewski (Lutherville, MD) has been selected as the 2005 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year. Andrzejewski, the 2004 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, led the league in scoring last season with 18 goals and seven assists for a total of 43 points.

Joining Andrzejewski at forward are Niagara?™s Brittany Bisnott (Brampton, Ont.) and Siena?™s Kristen Turner (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.). The midfielders are Loyola?™s Courtney Arikian (West Islip, N.Y.) and Naomi Daniels (Huntington, N.Y.) and Rider?™s Kelli Burke (Churchville, Pa.). The backs are anchored by Iona?™s Eleri Earnshaw (Rhyl, Wales) and Sarah Monarch (Coatesville, Pa.), Loyola?™s Lisa Jaffa (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) and Rider?™s Jen Marcella (Jackson, N.J.). Fairfield?™s Brett Maron (Billerica, Mass.) rounds out the team at the goalkeeper position.

Preseason Poll

Preseason All-MAAC Team