CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University at New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has released its 2017 Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll. The Geneseo Knights have been chosen as this year's top contender with a total of 89 points.
In their 2016 season, the Knights composed an overall 9-3-5 record, as well as a 6-1-2 conference record which earned them the second seed in the conference tournament, and a bye in the first round. The team defeated Oneonta in the semifinals 3-0, before falling in the championship match to Buffalo State, 1-0. In his 12th season with the Knights, head coach Nate Wiley hopes to bring his team to the conference championship once again in seek of the team's seventh title in program history.
The Oneonta Red Dragons were voted second with 87 points in total. The Red Dragons finished 10-6-4 overall with a conference record of 6-2-1, earning them an automatic berth into the SUNYAC tournament as the third seed. The team defeated Brockport 4-0 in the first round before falling to Geneseo 3-0 in the semifinals. Head Coach Liz McGrail plans to continue the program's success and reputation as the winningest team in SUNYAC women's soccer.
Buffalo State comes in third in the poll with a total of 79 points. The Bengals saw great success in their 2016 campaign with an overall record of 17-1-3. The team went undefeated in SUNYAC play, and grasped the conference title for the first time in program history, defeating Plattsburgh 2-0 in the semifinals and Geneseo 1-0 in the championship. The Bengals advanced to the NCAA's falling to Montclair State on penalty kicks (3-1) after tying, 1-1. The program finished the year ranked 21st nationally. Under head coach Nicholas DeMarsh, the team hopes to see the same success in the 2017 season.
2017 Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
- Geneseo (89 pts)
- Oneonta (87 pts)
- Buffalo State (79 pts)
- Plattsburgh (69 pts)
- Cortland (62 pts)
- Brockport (53 pts)
- Oswego (46 pts)
- Potsdam (29 pts)
- Fredonia (22 pts)
- New Paltz (14 pts)
