WATERVILLE, Maine – Husson University was the top choice to win the East Division while SUNY Delhi received the most points in the West Division in preseason voting among the North Atlantic Conference’s (NAC) women’s soccer coaches.
Husson received 35 points including five first-place votes to carry the East Division. Maine Maritime Academy, NAC tournament champions in 2019 and 2021 (there was no NAC tournament in 2020 due to COVID), was tabbed for second in the East Division poll with 29 points and one first-place vote. UMaine-Farmington received 22 points to finish third in the voting, followed by UMaine-Presque Isle (19 pts.), Thomas College (15 pts.), and Northern Vermont-Lyndon (6 pts.).
In the West Division, SUNY Delhi received four first-place votes on its way to 33 points and the top spot in the polling. Cazenovia College and SUNY Canton each tallied 26 points with one first-place vote and were tied for second in the poll, followed by Northern Vermont-Johnson (17 pts.), SUNY Poly (15 pts.), and SUNY Cobleskill (9 pts.).
The 2022 regular season starts on Thursday, Sept. 1, with the first North Atlantic Conference matches slated for Saturday, Sept. 10.
The 2022 NAC Tournament opens with divisional quarterfinal games on Saturday, Oct. 29, and concludes in the championship game on Saturday, Nov. 5.
Complete poll results and capsule previews for the North Atlantic Conference’s 12 teams are below:
EAST DIVISION
Husson University – 35 points (5 first-place votes)
The Eagles return 18 players and eight starters to Head Coach Dennis Mullins’ 2022 squad, after finishing the 2021 campaign with an 11-5-2 overall record, 4-1-0 against NAC East foes. Husson expects to compete for the NAC crown in 2022 with its veteran core, led by All-Region and First Team All-NAC forward Natalie Aviolla (18G, 6A, 42 Pts.), First Team All-NAC midfielder Charlotte Messer (11G, 3A, 25 Pts.), and Second Team All-NAC midfielder Sophia Mullins (1G, 7A, 9 Pts.). First Team All-NAC selection Megan Buddemeyer will command the Eagles’ back line.
Maine Maritime Academy – 29 points (1 first-place vote)
In his first season at the helm of Maine Maritime women’s soccer, Head Coach Keenan Schaeffer guided the Mariners to an 11-7-0 overall record and a second consecutive NAC crown. The Mariners will be seeking a modified three-peat (Maine Maritime’s titles were in 2019 and 2021, with no NAC championship held in 2020 due to COVID) with 13 returnees to the roster and seven returning starters. Second Team All-NAC honorees Kelsey Bern (6G, 5A, 17 Pts.) and Kirra Magaña (1G, 1A, 3 Pts.) headlining the returning field players, with Honorable Mention All-NAC GK Bess MacArthur (.745 save pct., 1.58 GAA, 1591 minutes) returning to the Mariners’ goal.
UMaine-Farmington – 22 points
UMaine-Farmington returns five starters and 11 roster players from last year’s squad that finished with a 7-11-0 overall record, 3-2-0 versus NAC East rivals. Second Team All-NAC forward Audrey Fletcher (8G, 3A, 19 Pts.) and Honorable Mention All-NAC defender Emily Larochelle (2G, 1A, 5 Pts.) headline the list of returnees, with midfielder Grace Dwyer and goalkeeper Page Gonya among the notable newcomers. Success for Head Coach Molly Wilkie’s UMaine-Farmington squad will hinge on how well the incoming first years and returning veterans mesh on the field.
UMaine-Presque Isle – 19 points
With nine returning players and seven returning starters, Head Coach Aaron Marston’s UMaine-Presque Isle squad will be trying to improve upon last season’s 7-8-0 overall record, 2-3-0 against NAC East rivals, and make a return to the NAC tournament. The 2022 Owls feature four All-NAC performers from last season: First Teamer Savannah Rodriguez (2A, 2 Pts.), and Second Team selections Zhoreen Malik (7G, 2A, 16 Pts.), Alexis Ireland (8G, 6A, 22 Pts.), and Monica McLaughlin (3A, 3 Pts.). Returning in goal for the Owls will be Savannah Rodriguez (.827 save pct., 1.54 GAA, 91 saves, 1111 minutes).
Thomas College – 15 points
Thomas College welcomes 13 players and nine starters back to the roster from last year’s squad that posted a 4-11-0 overall mark, 2-3-0 versus NAC East opponents. The Terriers are led by Mary LaRochelle (4G, 8 Pts.), who was the top scorer on the 2021 squad. Joining the team will be 12 newcomers on Head Coach Deb Biche-Labbe’s 2022 squad. Thomas will be rebuilding its depth this season, but expect to be in the hunt for a post-season berth by season’s end.
Northern Vermont-Lyndon – 6 points
Head Coach Ben Arsenault’s 2022 squad expects to be much improved and a more well-rounded group over his 2021 team that posted a 2-13-0 record, 0-4-0 in the NAC East Division, with 11 returnees joined by some talented newcomers. The Hornets boast seven returning starters this season led by striker Riann Fortin (7G, 5A, 19 Pts.), who earned Honorable Mention All-NAC honors a year ago, and center midfielder Rachel Palladino. Arsenault expects to see his team grow over the course of the 2022 season and become a factor in the NAC race.
WEST DIVISION
SUNY Delhi – 33 points (4 first-place votes)
Under second-year Head Coach Zach Ward, SUNY Delhi will be looking to get over the hump and make it to the NAC championship in 2022. The Broncos will be trying to replicate their success in the NAC West in 2021, when they went 4-0-0 in division, on their way to an 11-6-0 overall record. The Broncos will need to navigate a tough opening month with only two home matches in September, and will need to integrate 16 new players into the program to go with 13 returnees and seven returning starters.
Cazenovia College – 26 points (1 first-place vote)
The 2022 Cazenovia College women's soccer team looks to build on a successful 2021 campaign that saw the Wildcats finish with an 10-11-0 overall mark, 2-2-0 versus NAC West opponents. Cazenovia boasts 16 returnees and nine returning starters including three all-conference selections, led by Honorable Mention pick Logan Lund (3G, 6 Pts.) at forward. Honorable Mention All-NAC defenders Jenicah Brown and Sarah Penny also return to the lineup. Head Coach Hannah Tigh enters her third season at the helm of the Wildcats.
SUNY Canton – 26 points (1 first-place vote)
The Roos return 13 players from the 2021 squad as they look to qualify for their fourth consecutive NAC Tournament. The team returns senior Autumn Kunes (3G, 6 Pts.) and sophomore Taryn Morrissey (1G, 2 Pts.) also found the back of the net last season. Senior midfielder Hanlon Crane and junior defender Caitlin Douglas (defense) will captain the Roos this season. SUNY Canton also welcomes back goalkeeper Skylar Williams (.756 save pct., 3.14 GAA, 1175 minutes) who registered a pair of shutouts last season while recording 127 saves. Highlighting the newcomers are SUNY Morrisville transfer Emily Frazier and first years Shannon Platt and Natalie Baxter.
Northern Vermont-Johnson – 17 points
Northern Vermont-Johnson returns the entire 2021 opening day starting lineup for 2022, with the Badgers looking to make significant improvement upon their 1-12-0 overall record last season. Expectations are that nine talented newcomers will add to the depth provided by 12 returning players. Pacing Head Coach Norm Peterson’s Badgers offensively will be Honorable Mention All-NAC selections midfielder Denyce Ruiz (1G, 2A, 4 Pts.) and forward Dulce Niño (4G, 8 Pts.), and senior midfielder Maddie House (4G, 8 Pts.).
SUNY Poly – 15 points
The Wildcats return 12 players and nine starters off their 2021 squad that posted a 5-10-0 overall record, 2-2-0 versus NAC West foes. Headlining the returnees for SUNY Poly are Honorable Mention All-NAC performers forward Katelyn Daley (9G, 3A, 21 Pts.) and back Megan Greenway (2G, 4 Pts.). SUNY Poly will have a new coach on the touchline as Head Coach Jeff Hallenbeck joins the Wildcats from Hilbert College, where he was head men’s soccer coach and associate head women’s soccer coach.
SUNY Cobleskill – 9 points
After a two-year hiatus, SUNY Cobleskill women’s soccer will return to the field of play this year under the direction of first-year head coach Chukwuma Asala. The Fighting Tigers will field a roster of 20 newcomers in their return to intercollegiate action. Players to watch for SUNY Cobleskill including junior forward Julia Howard, a transfer from Monroe Community College, and first year midfielder Jessie Carney, an all-state honoree from New Hampshire.