EDISON, NJ – After advancing to its third straight MAAC championship round last year, the Monmouth University softball team has been selected to finish second in the 2018 MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league office announced on Tuesday morning. In addition, senior pitcher Amanda Riley was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team.
 
"We are excited to kick off the season in a few short weeks," said Monmouth head coach Shannon Salsburg. "While we appreciate the respect shown to our program, the ultimate goal is to win the tournament and go to regionals. It is no easy feat and we work hard daily to prepare for the grind we will face when we come home in March and begin MAAC play."
 
The Hawks tallied 98 total votes, including three first-place votes in the poll. Monmouth returns 12 players from last year's squad, and adds eight new players for the upcoming season.
 
Monmouth advanced to its third-consecutive MAAC Championship Round in 2017, but fell to #6 seed Fairfield, 2-0. Monmouth ended the season with a 25-31 overall record, making the run to the MAAC championship round as the five seed.
 
Riley completed a historic season, ending the 2017 campaign littered in the Monmouth record books for a single-season. Her 248.1 innings pitched were a single-season program record. Her 17 wins rank tied for sixth. Riley's 46 appearances are a program record, while her 34 starts tie a program record. Her 241 strikeouts shattered the program record by 74, and the historic season included All-MAAC First Team honors, All-ECAC Second Team honors, 2017 MAAC All-Championship Team honors, and 2017 MAAC All-Academic Team honors. Riley pitched five straight complete games to send Monmouth to the MAAC championship round, totaling 37 innings and 37 strikeouts while allowing just 17 hits and five earned runs.
 
Monmouth opens the season on Friday, February 16 against UMass in Madeira Beach, FL. The Hawks are scheduled to play 25 games on the road before returning to West Long Branch for the home opener on March 27 against Stony Brook, which will be broadcasted on ESPN3. The 2018 MAAC Championships will run from May 9 to May 13, hosted by the #1 seed.
 
 
 
 
Coaches' Poll:
1.      Fairfield – 111 (6)
2.      MONMOUTH – 98 (3)
3.      Marist – 95 (1)
4.      Iona – 89 (1)
5.      Manhattan – 84
6.      Siena – 69
7.      Canisius – 51
8.      Quinnipiac – 49
9.      Niagara – 46
T10. Rider – 17
T10. Saint Peter's – 17
 
Preseason All-MAAC Team:
 
Catcher:
Tori Danner - Iona
 
Infield:
Courtney Hankins – Fairfield
Lauren Pitney – Manhattan
Rebecca Drake – Quinnipiac
Madysen Cossack – Siena
 
Outfield:
Marisa Gergel – Iona
Shannon Puthe – Manhattan
Kourtney Paul - Marist
 
Designated Player:
Lauren Castro – Canisius
 
Utility:
Briana Matazinsky – Manhattan
 
Pitcher:
Alana Evans – Iona
Amanda Riley - MONMOUTH
 
Preseason Player of the Year:
Madysen Cossack – Siena