BLOOMSBURG—The Bloomsburg University women’s soccer team has been ranked as the eighth-best in the league in the recently-released Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) pre-season coaches’ poll.
Unlike previous seasons, the PSAC will have only one division in women’s soccer, as opposed to the East/West partition that applies to other sports. In the new system, the top eight teams overall in the conference will receive berths in the conference championship tournament.
West Chester led the survey, securing nine first-place votes. California garnered five top-votes to take second place, followed by IUP and Kutztown, which tabbed the final first-place vote. Gannon was slotted fifth, while Mercyhurst and Slippery Rock tied for sixth.
The Huskies tied with the Warriors of East Stroudsburg for the eighth position on the list, a prediction of a potential duel for the final conference playoff berth.
Bloomsburg’s Sandy Dickson returns for her 13th season as head coach, looking to improve upon a 2009 season that saw the Huskies post a 6-10-3 overall record (4-6-2 PSAC) and slide into the postseason as the fourth-best team in the PSAC Eastern Division. BU was dismissed in the first round of the conference tournament courtesy of a 3-0 loss at the hands of top-seeded West Chester.
Senior defender Kristine Preski (Pottstown, Owen J. Roberts), a 2009 Division-II All-Mid Atlantic Region third-team and second-team All-PSAC East selection, will return to help the Huskies in the backfield. Preski helped BU hold its opponents to just 25 goals in the season.
Frances Nicoletti (Haddonfield, NJ, Haddonfield) is back again to perform goalkeeping duties for Bloomsburg. The junior net-minder was second in the PSAC in saves last season and looks to be a dominant force between the pipes again this year.
Seniors Kelsey Stoka (Langhorne, Neshaminy) and Ali McCrossin (Philadelphia, Little Flower) will provide leadership to the front and midfield, respectively, while junior Aimee Bux (Pottstown, Owen J. Roberts) will be expected to supply experience to a defensive squad that is missing three seniors from last season’s lineup.
The 2010 soccer campaign kicks off on Saturday, September 4, as the Huskies travel to Lakewood, N.J. to face the Lions of Georgian Court University. Bloomsburg returns to Sports Stadium for its home-opener on September 8, facing the Griffins of Chestnut Hill College at 6:30 p.m.
Poll Results (first-place votes)
1. West Chester (9)
2. California (5)
3. IUP
4. Kutztown (1)
5. Gannon
T-6. Mercyhurst
T-6. Slippery Rock
T-8. Bloomsburg
T-8. East Stroudsburg
10. Edinboro
11. Shippensburg
12. Millersville
13. Lock Haven
14. Mansfield
15. Clarion