MANSFIELD, Mass. – The Southern New Hampshire University women's soccer team was slotted in fourth in the NE10 Preseason Coaches' Poll on Tuesday.
The College of Saint Rose collected nine first-place votes and 119 total points to take the top spot, while Franklin Pierce University gathered a pair of first-place votes and 107 points to place second, and Adelphi University came in third with the remaining first-place vote and 103 points. The Penmen are picked fourth with 88 points, ahead of Southern Connecticut State University, which was fifth with 72 points. Saint Anselm College (69), Assumption University (63) and Bentley University (56) were sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively, while Pace University (44), American International College (33), Saint Michael's College (23) and the University of New Haven (15) rounded out the poll.
Head coach Elie Monteiro will begin his 10th season leading the Penmen, who are coming off a 2022 campaign in which they went 6-6-5, fell in the NE10 quarterfinals, but earned an NCAA berth and eventually lost to FPU. SNHU will be looking for its sixth straight NCAA berth.
Of the 14 Penmen who registered at least one point last season, 12 of them return in 2023, as Southern New Hampshire brings back 92 percent of its offense from a year ago. Leading scorers, graduate student Allison Beaumont (Milton, Ontario), who notched 10 points on three goals and four assists, and senior Nida Orloff (Leicester, Mass.), who scored four goals and dished a pair of helpers for 10 points, are both back. Senior Alyssa Anderson (Londonderry, N.H.), the only returner to earn NE10 All-Conference accolades last season, is back, as well. The Penmen defensive should receive a lift from Kassidy Michael (Manheim, Pa.), who missed all of last season with an injury. Senior Lea Baum (Londonderry, N.H.) and junior Lauren Conti (Schenectady, N.Y.) also return to the back line. Sophomore Claudia Keith (Danvers, Mass.) is the only returning goalkeeper on the roster. In two games, including a start, last season, she went 1-0-0 and stopped all four shots she faced over 109:23.
SNHU will open the season Friday, Sept. 1 (12 p.m.) with the first of its 16 matches against the University of Bridgeport at Franklin Pierce University's Sodexo Field. The Penmen head back to Rindge on Sunday (Sept. 3) at 6 p.m. to battle Mercy College. SNHU plays the first of its five home matches Wednesday, Sept. 27 (7 p.m.) against Franklin Pierce at Ouellette Stadium.
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2023 NE10 Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll
1. Saint Rose – 119 (9)
2. Franklin Pierce – 107 (2)
3. Adelphi – 103 (1)
4. Southern New Hampshire – 88
5. Southern Connecticut -–72
6. Saint Anselm – 69
7. Assumption – 63
8. Bentley – 56
9. Pace – 44
10. American International – 33
11. Saint Michael's – 23
12. New Haven – 15
