BENNINGTON, Vt. – Based on voting by league coaches, the Southern Vermont College women's soccer team has been selected to finish tied for sixth with Newbury College in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) this season.
The Mountaineers return eight players from the 2012 squad that won the most games in program history, recording an 11-5-2 mark (5-3-1 NECC) and making the conference playoffs for the second-straight year.
Included in those returning are 2012 All-NECC Second Team selection and senior Jocelyn Ortega (Chula Vista, Calif.) and senior captain Erika Garay (Walnut, Calif.). All-NECC Honorable Mention and junior defensive leader Sam Hastings (Kingston, N.Y.) also comes back for third-year coach Michael Zauzig to help anchor a backfield that helped give up just 1.11 goals per game last year.
"We have a highly committed group that has a high soccer IQ and is willing to work hard each day," stated Zauzig. "Their attention to detail this preseason, whether it's training, eating healthy, or working together, has been great to witness. I'm excited to see what happens as long as we stay healthy."
Coach Zauzig welcomes six newcomers to the crew, three being freshman and the other three entering as junior transfers from California.
Last year, SVC ranked third in the league with 55 total goals, averaging 3.1 per game which tied for the most in the NECC with Becker College.
Lesley University received eight of the 10 first-place votes, being selected to finish atop the conference once again. The Lynx have not lost a game in regular season conference play since 2008, the first year of the NECC. Regis College had two first-place votes to be chosen to finish second, and Elms College rounded out the top-three.
Southern Vermont is scheduled to open up the regular season this Friday, August 30, with a 4 p.m. start at Juniata College. The Mountaineers first play at home on September 14 when Mount Holyoke College visits for a 1 p.m. kickoff, and NECC play begins for the Mountaineers September 21 when they travel to 2012 conference champion Lesley for a 1 p.m. start.
2013 NECC Women's Soccer Coaches Poll (NECC Release)
1. Lesley (8)
2. Regis (2)
3. Elms
4. Becker
5. Mitchell
T6. Newbury
T6. Southern Vermont
8. Bay Path
9. Wheelock
10. Daniel Webster
(parentheses indicate first-place votes)