Aug 5, 2004
[Click here for full PDF release]
South Easton, Mass. ? The Ravens of Franklin Pierce College are once again the preseason favorites to win the Northeast-10 Conference according to the 2004 women?s soccer preseason coaches? poll.
Franklin Pierce, the four-time defending Northeast-10 tournament champion and three-time defending regular season champion, received the nod in unanimous fashion this year, garnering all 15 first place votes for a total of 225 points.
Merrimack, the field?s second selection, came in 19 points behind Franklin Pierce with 206 total, but still held a significant edge over third-place finisher Saint Rose, which received 180 points. The Ravens, Warriors and Golden Knights all made NCAA Tournament appearances last season.
Southern New Hampshire University, which made a big improvement in 2003 by going 11-5-4 on the season and receiving an NCAA Tournament bid, was picked to finish fourth, receiving 166 points. Bryant University was selected fifth in the poll with 159 points, just edging Southern Connecticut State University, who was picked to finish six with 158 points.
Bentley College finished seventh with 143 points, while Assumption College received 114 points and Pace University tallied 103 points. Saint Michael?s College, Saint Anselm College, Le Moyne College, Stonehill College, UMass Lowell and American International College rounded out the poll.
Franklin Pierce went 22-3-0 last year en route to winning the Northeast-10 regular season and postseason titles. The Ravens defeated Merrimack in the championship final, 4-3, and earned their NCAA Division II record 12th NCAA Tournament bid. Franklin Pierce went on to win the New England regional and advanced all the way to the national championship game before bowing to Kennesaw State University, 2-0.
This year?s Northeast-10 tournament opens on October 31 with quarterfinal matches, followed by the NE-10 semifinals on November 2 and the championship on November 6.
Sponsoring 23 championship sports and 15 full-time members, the Northeast-10 is the second largest NCAA Division II athletic conference in the nation and sponsors the most championships of any Division II conference.
2004 Women?s Soccer Preseason Coaches? Poll
1. Franklin Pierce (15) - 225 Points
2. Merrimack - 206
3. Saint Rose - 180
4. Southern New Hampshire - 166
5. Bryant - 159
6. Southern Connecticut - 158
7. Bentley - 143
8. Assumption - 114
9. Pace - 103
10. Saint Michael?s - 97
11. Saint Anselm - 75
12. Le Moyne - 55
13. Stonehill - 48
14. UMass Lowell - 47
15. American International - 23
(First place votes in parentheses.)
