Courtesy: UAlbany AthleticsCambridge, Mass.- The UAlbany women's soccer team has been tabbed third in the America East Conference preseason poll on Monday, August 13. The Great Danes finished 9-10-1 overall, 5-2-1 in conference play and were runner-up last season to Boston University, who were unanimously selected to defend its conference title in 2012.
Following Boston U., Hartford was chosen to finish second this season with 56 points and received the remaining first place vote with UAlbany right behind tallying 48 points.
Then New Hampshire (36), Stony Brook (33) and Vermont (30) followed in a close heat at fourth, fifth and sixth. Finally Maine in seventh with 25 points, Binghamton with 24 points and UMBC to complete the poll with 8 points.
The Great Danes look ahead to the 2012 season, bringing back 52 percent of their offense input (13 of the 25 total goals) with fowards Aubrey VanGorder (4 goals), Shayla Bergeron (3 goals, 1 assist), Casey Marks (2 goals) and Maggie DeVerna (1 goal, 2 assists) all returning. In net, both Jackie Ubert and Dani Britt come back for the 2012 season with a lot of experience, having combined for a 1.84 goals against average, 117 saves and a .755 save percentage.
UAlbany has played on exhibition game so far this preseason, tying Army 2-2 with goals coming from senior forwards Regina Nowicki and Shayla Bergeron. The Great Danes will play one more exhibition game against St. Rose on Friday, August 17 at 1 pm then prepare to go on the road for their season opener against Syracuse on Friday, August 24 at 4 pm.
2012 Preseason Poll
Rank Team (1st-place votes) Points
1. Boston U. (8) 64
2. Hartford (1) 56
3. Albany 48
4. New Hampshire 36
5. Stony Brook 33
6. Vermont 30
7. Maine 25
8. Binghamton 24
9. UMBC 8
