Edison, N.J. (August 19, 2021) – The non-conference portion of the 2021 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) women’s soccer season begins this afternoon, with six teams scheduled to play today. This weekend’s action will see nine more games being played, as ten of the 11 teams will see action this opening weekend. 
 
Monmouth University was ranked the preseason favorite, as voted on by the league’s 11 head coaches. The Hawks have appeared in the last five MAAC Championship games, winning four in a row before losing in last year's championship in penalty kicks to the Siena Saints. The Hawks will host Lehigh tomorrow, Friday, August 20 in West Long Branch at 7:00 p.m.
 
The defending champion Saints start their season in Loudonville this afternoon as they play host to Binghamton at 4:00 p.m. Siena took home the program’s third MAAC championship this past season after taking home the regular season championship as well and were ranked third in the preseason coaches’ poll.
 
Quinnipiac University was picked second in this year’s preseason poll after entering the 2020-21 MAAC Championship as the No. 2 seed. The Bobcats will open the season on the road, taking on Stony Brook on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Quinnipiac will look to capture the school’s first MAAC Championship since joining the league in 2013.
 
Fairfield University and Rider University were picked to finish fourth and fifth, respectively. The Stags start off 2021 at home, playing LIU in a 6:00 p.m. game tonight. The Broncs will host Wagner College Friday night at 7:00 p.m. in Lawrenceville.
 

2021 MAAC OPENING GAME SCHEDULE

	Matchup	Time
Thursday, Aug. 19	Iona vs. Boston College	1:00 P.M.
Thursday, Aug. 19	Saint Peter's vs. St. Francis Brooklyn	3:00 P.M.
Thursday, Aug. 19	Siena vs. Binghamton	4:00 P.M.
Thursday, Aug. 19	Marist at Loyola (MD)	6:00 P.M.
Thursday, Aug. 19	Fairfield vs. LIU	6:00 P.M.
Thursday, Aug. 19	Canisius vs. St. Bonaventure	7:00 P.M.
Friday, Aug. 20	Monmouth vs. Lehigh	7:00 P.M.
Friday, Aug. 20	Rider vs. Wagner	7:00 P.M.
Sunday, Aug. 22	Quinnipiac at Stony Brook	1:00 P.M.
Sunday, Aug. 22	Niagara at University at Buffalo	7:00 P.M.
Thursday, Aug. 26	Manhattan vs. Fordham	7:00 P.M.

 

   
Keep up with all MAAC soccer action by following @MAACSports on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For information, visit MAACSports.com.
 
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 41st year of competition during the 2021-22 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.