EDISON, NJ (Aug. 7, 2024) – The two-time defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Women’s Soccer champions, Quinnipiac University, has been slated as the favorites to win its third title according to the 2024 MAAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll, while Fairfield University’s Maddy Theriault has been named Preseason Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, as voted on by the league’s 13 head coaches.
The Bobcats tallied 166 points with 10 first-place votes in the poll, earning their third straight preseason poll first place nod. Over the past two seasons, Quinnipiac has compiled a league-best 18-1-1 MAAC record, which included an unbeaten 9-0-1 mark (28 points) in 2023, earning their second consecutive MAAC Regular Season title. In postseason play over the past two seasons as the No. 1 overall seed, the Bobcats have not conceded a single goal, outscoring all four of their opponents by a combined score of 7-0, en route to back-to-back MAAC Championship crowns.
2023 championship runner-up, Fairfield, finished second in the poll for the second straight year, earning 152 points and one first-place vote, while Canisius University was picked third, garnering 126 points and one first-place vote. Niagara University followed in fourth place, claiming 118 points, while Rider University and MAAC newcomer Sacred Heart University tied for fifth with 101 points apiece to round out the league’s top half.
Fairfield standout, Theriault, was named MAAC Preseason Player of the Year for the second consecutive year and she was the lone unanimous selection to the Preseason All-MAAC Team. The rising junior forward led the MAAC with 10 goals ranking 55th in the country last season. She ranked second in the conference with 26 total points and 3.40 shots per game, both of which landed in the top-55 in NCAA Division I, and Theriault tied for the Fairfield lead with six assists, a mark that ranked third in the MAAC. She is a two-time All-MAAC First Team selection, a member of the 2023 MAAC All-Championship Team, and the 2022 MAAC Rookie of the Year. Nationally and regionally, Theriault was named to the 2023 United Soccer Coaches All-Region Third Team, and in 2022 she earned ECAC Rookie of the Year, ECAC All-Stars Second Team, and College Sports News All-Freshman Third Team honors.
The full Preseason Coaches’ Poll and remainder of the Preseason All-MAAC Team can be found below.
| 2024 MAAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll |
| 1 |
Quinnipiac |
166 (10) |
| 2 |
Fairfield |
152 (1) |
| 3 |
Canisius |
126 (1) |
| 4 |
Niagara |
118 |
| T5 |
Rider |
101 |
| T5 |
Sacred Heart |
101 |
| 7 |
Merrimack |
94 (1) |
| 8 |
Mount St. Mary’s |
81 |
| 9 |
Siena |
75 |
| 10 |
Marist |
68 |
| 11 |
Manhattan |
50 |
| 12 |
Saint Peter’s |
28 |
| 13 |
Iona |
23 |
| Preseason Player of the Year |
| Maddy Theriault – Fairfield |
| Preseason All-MAAC Team |
| Player |
Position |
Year |
Institution |
| Elle Scott |
Forward |
Gr. |
Fairfield |
| Maddy Theriault* |
Forward |
Jr. |
Fairfield |
| Courtney Chochol |
Forward |
Gr. |
Quinnipiac |
| Emma Oliphant |
Midfield |
Sr. |
Canisius |
| Allie Kirby |
Midfield |
Gr. |
Fairfield |
| Reagan Klarmann |
Midfield |
Sr. |
Fairfield |
| Ella Gagno |
Midfield |
Sr. |
Quinnipiac |
| Meghan Heath |
Defense |
Jr. |
Canisius |
| Meghan Carragher |
Defense |
Jr. |
Fairfield |
| Madison Mandleur |
Defense |
Sr. |
Quinnipiac |
| Ellie Sciancalepore |
Goalkeeper |
Gr. |
Rider |
Denotes unanimous selection*
The 2024 MAAC Women’s Soccer Championship is an eight-team, single-elimination championship taking place November 3-10, 2024. Each match during the championship will be hosted by the higher seed and all rounds of the championship will reseed. The quarterfinals will take place on Sunday, November 3, followed by the semifinals on Thursday, November 7, and concluding with the championship final on Sunday, November 10. For all information regarding the 2024 MAAC Women’s Soccer Championship, please visit
maacsports.com/wsoc.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 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 44th year of competition during the 2024-25 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
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