WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – After picking up six first-place votes, the Monmouth University women's soccer team was picked to finish first in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Preseason Poll released on Thursday.
The Hawks, who are coming off a CAA Regular Season Championship a year ago, received 124 points and edged out Northeastern for the top spot in the poll voted on by the league's head coaches. Northeastern got one first-place vote and 123 points to finish second in the poll while Hofstra rounded out the top three with three first-place votes and 117 points.
In addition, senior defender
Lauren Bruno was named to the Preseason All-CAA squad.
Bruno was a Second Team All-CAA and Third Team USC All-East Region selection a year ago. She started all 18 games while keying a Monmouth defense that posted nine shutouts and only allowed seven goals in CAA play.
Monmouth is coming off a 2022 campaign in which it went 13-2-3 overall and 6-1-2 in conference play. The Hawks ranked ninth nationally in won-lost-tied percentage (.806), 19
th in goals-against average (0.659), and 27
th in scoring offense (2.11 goals/game).
Monmouth kicks off its 2023 campaign on Friday, August 18 when it hosts Lehigh at 6 p.m.
2023 CAA Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
| |
School (1st) |
Points |
| 1. |
Monmouth (6) |
124 |
| 2. |
Northeastern (1) |
123 |
| 3. |
Hofstra (3) |
117 |
| 4. |
Towson (1) |
112 |
| 5. |
Drexel (1) |
111 |
| 6. |
Elon |
86 |
| 7. |
Campbell (1) |
80 |
| 8. |
William & Mary |
62 |
| 9. |
UNCW |
61 |
| 10. |
Stony Brook |
59 |
| 11. |
Charleston |
40 |
| 12. |
Delaware |
27 |
| 13. |
Hampton |
12 |
2023 Preseason All-CAA Women's Soccer Team
| Name |
School |
Cl. |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Vivian Akyirem * |
Northeastern |
So. |
F |
Kumasi, Ghana |
| Kayla Burroughs |
UNCW |
Jr. |
F |
Asheboro, N.C. |
| Nia Christopher * |
Towson |
Sr. |
F |
Devonshire, Bermuda |
| Ivey Crain |
William & Mary |
So. |
F |
Milton, Ga. |
| Delaney Lappin * |
Drexel |
Sr. |
F |
Corbin City, N.J. |
| Wiktoria Fronc * |
Hofstra |
So. |
M |
London, England |
| Jessie Hunt |
Northeastern |
Sr. |
M |
Edina, Minn. |
| Annalena O'Reilly |
Drexel |
R-Sr. |
M |
Ardmore, Pa. |
| Lauren Bruno |
Monmouth |
Sr. |
D |
Manalapan, N.J. |
| Laney Peabody |
Campbell |
R-Sr. |
D |
Solana Beach, Calif. |
| Catharina von Drigalski |
Stony Brook |
Gr. |
D |
Oberursel, Germany |
| Riley Melendez |
Towson |
Sr. |
GK |
Springfield, Va. |
2023 CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Vivian Akyirem, Northeastern
* Received at least one vote for Preseason Player of the Year
There was a tie for the final spot on the team, hence the 12-player list.
Honorable Mention: McKenna Dalfonso, GK, Elon; Lily Dunbar, D, Drexel; Jasmine Hamid, M, Towson; Kennedy Jones, M, Elon; Alexis Legowski, M, Northeastern; Makaya Parham, D, UNCW; Dagny Run Petursdottir, M, Hofstra; Grace Powell, M, Charleston; Caitlin St. Leger, M, Delaware; Holland Stam, GK, Northeastern; Shae Yocum, D, Charleston
