Lesley Tops NECC in Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll

ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Lesley University has been tabbed as the preseason favorite to capture the New England Collegiate Conference women’s soccer championship, it was announced today by Commissioner Del Malloy. Voting for the preseason poll was conducted among the NECC’s head women’s soccer coaches.

Women’s soccer is the only Fall NECC sport that all nine members sponsor.

The Lesley Lynx (15-5-1, 8-0 NECC) received seven of the nine first-place votes in the 2010 NECC preseason poll. The 2009 champions are led by head coach Paul Vasconcelos who will return 18 players and eight starters including three NECC all-conference members.  The Lynx have the 2008 and 2009 NECC Rookie of the Year in junior Jenna Fralick (Woburn, Mass.) and sophomore Kate Ryder (Glastonbury, Conn.). Senior midfielder Alyson Durben (Stow, Mass.) will also help lead the Lynx.

Mitchell College was picked as the runner-up receiving two first-place votes and 71 points. Elms College grabbed the number three spot with 63 points. While Becker College and Newbury College received 56 and 41 points for the fourth and fifth place preseason poll finishes.

Teams received nine points for every first place vote received, eight points for second place votes, seven points for third place votes, down to one point for a last place vote. First place votes are shown in parentheses.

2010 NECC PRESEASON WOMEN’S SOCCER POLL

TEAM, POINTS (1st Place votes)
Lesley, 78 (7)
Mitchell, 71 (2)
Elms, 63
Becker, 56
Newbury, 41
Daniel Webster, 37
Wheelock, 25
Bay Path, 23
Southern Vermont, 11