Fairfield Preseason Choice In MAAC Poll
MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ – The Fairfield University women’s soccer team has been picked as a close favorite to win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title, as selected by the MAAC’s head coaches in their annual preseason poll. Fairfield earned 115 first place votes, narrowly edging runnerup Marist by two votes.
The Stags were 11-6-2 last season, including 8-1 in league action to earn a share of the MAAC Regular Season title. Fairfield fell 1-0 in the semifinals of the conference tournament, to eventual MAAC champion Loyola. The Stags are led by ninth-year head coach Jim O’Brien, who has guided Fairfield to a MAAC regular season championship and two NCAA tournament berths. Midfielder Nikki Stanton, a two-time first team all-conference selection, returns for her final season for the Stags.
Fairfield narrowly edged second place Marist by two points in the ballot. Marist was 15-7 in 2012, establishing a school record for victories. The Red Foxes earned a share of the MAAC regular season title with an 8-1 mark in conference action and advanced to the MAAC Tournament championship, falling to Loyola 2-1. Eight starters return from last year’s squad, including the top two scorers, junior Amanda Epstein and senior Rycke Guiney. Third year head coach Katherine Lyn led the Red Foxes to the MAAC Championship in her inaugural year, and the runnerup spot in last year’s tournament.
Monmouth (86), in its first season in the MAAC, finished third in the preseason poll, followed by Rider (69), Niagara (68), Siena (64), Iona (62), Quinnipiac (59), Canisius (45), Manhattan (32) and Saint Peter’s (13). Quinnipiac is also in its inaugural season with the MAAC.
The Red Foxes’ Epstein, who scored eight goals and tallied 20 points while earning first-team All-MAAC honors, was the choice for Preseason Player of the Year. Epstein hails from Jericho, N.Y.
The 2013 MAAC Women’s Soccer Championship will be held Oct. 31-Nov. 4 at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney Resorts in Orlando, FL.
Preseason Coaches’ Poll
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1.
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Fairfield
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115
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|
2
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Marist
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113
|
|
3.
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Monmouth
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86
|
|
4.
|
Rider
|
69
|
|
5.
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Niagara
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68
|
|
6.
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Siena
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64
|
|
7.
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Iona
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62
|
|
8.
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Quinnipiac
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59
|
|
9.
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Canisius
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45
|
|
10.
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Manhattan
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32
|
|
11.
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Saint Peter’s
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13
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Preseason All-MAAC Team
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Amanda Epstein
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Forward
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Marist
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|
Brianna Smith
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Forward
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Canisius
|
|
Dana Costello
|
Forward
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Monmouth
|
|
Brittany Pfaff
|
Forward
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Siena
|
|
Haillie Price
|
Forward
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Niagara
|
|
Rycke Guiney
|
Midfielder
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Marist
|
|
Nikki Stanton
|
Midfielder
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Fairfield
|
|
Alexandra Baca
|
Midfielder
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Monmouth
|
|
Jennifer Meier
|
Midfielder
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Rider
|
|
Tara Ballay
|
Midfielder
|
Rider
|
|
Carly Beyar
|
Midfielder
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Fairfield
|
|
Kylee McIntosh
|
Back
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Marist
|
|
Megan O’Brien
|
Back
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Fairfield
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|
Sali Ayinde
|
Back
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Iona
|
|
Hayley Besaw
|
Back
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Niagara
|
|
Alexa Freguletti
|
Back
|
Monmouth
|
|
Becca Kape
|
Back
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Rider
|
|
Marissa Mertens
|
Back
|
Marist
|
|
Danielle Kennedy
|
Back
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Niagara
|
|
Anna Grant
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Back
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Siena
|
|
Kathleen Early
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Goalie
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Fairfield
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2013 Preseason MAAC Player of the Year
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Amanda Epstein
|
Forward
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Marist
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