Right on the heels of last season’s conference co-champions Pitt-Bradford and Franciscan, Penn-State Behrend finished just a game behind, and returns six of their eight all-Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference players, to top our HERO Sports AMCC pre-season rankings.
PRESEASON CONFERENCE RANKINGS
| BR | TEAM |
|---|---|
| 140 | Penn State-Behrend |
| 164 | Pittsburgh-Bradford |
| 264 | Franciscan |
| 311 | D’Youville |
| 329 | La Roche |
| 343 | Medaille |
| 348 | Penn State-Altoona |
| 351 | Pittsburgh-Greensburg |
| 367 | Mount Aloysius |
| 384 | Hilbert |
COMPLETE D3 WOMEN’S SOCCER RANKINGS BY BENNETTRANK
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PENN STATE-BEHREND (LIONS)
LOCATION: Erie (Pa.)
COACH: Patrick O’Driscoll (130-66-18 in 10 seasons, 4 time AMCC Coach of the Year)
2014 RECORD: 16-6-1
2014 CONF. RECORD: 7-2 (T2nd in the AMCC)
2014 POSTSEASON: Lost in first round of NCAA Tournament to Brandies, 2-0.
THE CORNERSTONE: Jr./F Alex Bilka (15 goals, 8 assists last year—All-AMCC Team, All-Great Lakes Region 2nd team).
THE SUPPORTING CAST: So./F Olivia Belack (16 goals, 10 assists); So./Jordan Oberlander (7 goals, 6 assists); Jr./F Allyson Lonas (8 goals, 7 assists).
OUTLOOK: The Lions bring front-line experience to the field this season, with junior forward Alex Bilka tallying 28 goals and 12 assists in her first two seasons. With six returning All-AMCC players on the field, the Lions shouldn’t have much trouble hitting the back of the net this season. Losing 2014 AMCC Defensive Player of the Year Shelby Lloyd to graduation, mid-fielder Jordan Oberlander and sophomore All-AMCC defender Rachel Weyand will need to step up the Lion defense. Watch for the Lions to make a run at the AMCC Championship this season, as the experience and talent of the underclassmen develop on the field.
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PITT-BRADFORD (PANTHERS)
LOCATION: Bradford (PA)
COACH: Mike Idland (63-46-5 in 7 seasons)
2014 RECORD: 15-5
2014 CONF. RECORD: 8-1 (T1st in the AMCC)
THE CORNERSTONE: So./F Melissa Smith (30 goals, 11 assists last year—led team and AMCC. AMCC Offensive Player of the Year).
THE SUPPORTING CAST: Sr./F Maggie Boehler (7 goals, 7 assists); So./GK Sarah Dailey (0.789 GA average, 90 saves); Sr./D Jamie Christensen (17 goals in 20 starts).
OUTLOOK: With two returning all-AMCC forwards, including sophomore forward Melissa Smith, last season’s AMCC Offensive Player of the Year, the Panther offense should be solid. With a successful freshman season between the posts under her belt, watch for goal-keeper Sarah Dailey, coming off a third-team All-AMCC season to dominate in the net. After taking a share of the top honors in the AMCC last season, watch for the Panthers to be in the hunt once again for the Championship hardware.
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FRANCISCAN (BARONS)
LOCATION: Steubenville (OH)
COACH: Clare McBane (25-8-1 in 2 seasons, 2014 AMCC Coach of the Year)
2014 RECORD: 13-5-1
2014 CONF. RECORD: 8-1 (T1st in the AMCC)
THE CORNERSTONE: Sr./F Hannah Cooke (8 goals, X assists – Third Team All-AMCC).
THE SUPPORTING CAST: Jr./D Monica Dawyot; Sr./D Calene Dougherty (both All-AMCC Team, combining for four conference shutouts, seven overall).
OUTLOOK: Losing seven seniors after last season’s AMCC second place finish, Coach Clare McBane and the Barons will have to lean on the experienced defense of junior defender Monica Dawyot and senior Calene Dougherty. With many new faces on the field this season, exactly where the Barons will fall into the mix at the end of the season is uncertain. But one thing for sure, Coach McBane is looking to keep the winning atmosphere rolling.
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D’YOUVILLE (SPARTANS)
LOCATION: Buffalo (NY)
COACH: Lew Potter (59-55-9 in 7 seasons, 2010 AMCC Coach of the Year)
2014 RECORD: 8-8-2
2014 CONF. RECORD: 4-5 (5th in the AMCC)
THE CORNERSTONE: Sr./M Melissa LaVerne (4 goals, 2 assists last year—three time All-AMCC Team player).
THE SUPPORTING CAST: Sr./D Amanda Drake (Team Captain, 17 Starts, 7 shots); Sr./M Nicole LaVerne (15 starts, 2 goals – All AMC Tournament Team in 2014); So./GK Morgan Price (6 starts – 3 shutouts, 48 saves); Jr./M-F Terra Juda (led team with 7 goals in 17 starts, 40 shots).
OUTLOOK: Returning team captain senior defender Amana Drake, along with the LaVerne Twins leading the offense charge, bring experience to the field for the Spartans this season. Solid defense should be in front of goal-keeper Morgan Price, and with shutouts in half of her starts last season, scoring on the Spartans should be tough. With some experience returning, the Spartans could be a potential sleeper in the hunt for the top seeds come AMCC Tournament time.
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LA ROCHE (REDHAWKS)
LOCATION: Pittsburg (PA)
COACH: Miguel Lozano (176-99-23in 17 seasons, 2 time AMCC Coach of the Year)
2014 RECORD: 6-7-3
2014 CONF. RECORD: 3-5-1 (T6th in the AMCC)
THE CORNERSTONE: So./F Vanessa Ceravolo (16 starts, 13 goals, 28 points – All AMCC).
THE SUPPORTING CAST: Sr./GK Destiney Davis (111 saves, 4 shutouts, 2 time AMCC Defensive Player of the Week in 2014); Sr./F Kayla Bartok (16 starts, 1 goal, 4 points).
OUTLOOK: The Redhawks will need some to offensive support to step up and take some of the load off sophomore Vanessa Ceravolo, and watch for senior goal-keeper Destiney Davis to continue to anchor a solid defense. Led by returning scoring leader Cervolo, and with Davis’ strength between the posts, the Redhawks will look to repeat their appearance in the AMCC Tournament in 2015.
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MADILLE (MAVERICKS)
LOCATION: Buffalo (NY)
COACH: Michael “Mickey” Blythe (2015 first season as Madille Head Coach)
2014 RECORD: 7-10
2014 CONF. RECORD: 6-3 (4th in the AMCC)
THE CORNERSTONE: Jr./MF Candis Kapuschiski (7 goals, 16 points — 4 game winners, 2014 All-Region Team).
THE SUPPORTING CAST: Sr./GK Morgan Howe (7-5; 3 shutouts – .833 save percentage)
OUTLOOK: Having junior midfielder Candis Kapuschiski and senior goal-keeper Morgan Howe coming off strong junior campaigns, and with the addition of new head coach Micky Blythe, if the Mavericks midfield can step up to support the front and back-ends, they should be a team to contend with in the AMCC mix this season. With Blythe now at the helm, and used to success, the Mavericks may be in a good position to repeat their appearance at the AMCC playoffs, and advance past the first round.
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PENN STATE – ALTOONA (LIONS)
LOCATION: Altoona (PA)
COACH: Pam Snyder Etters (5 seasons, 1 AMCC Championship)
2014 RECORD: 3-13-3
2014 CONF. RECORD: 2-5-2 (8th in the AMCC)
CORNERSTONE: Jr./F-MF Brittany Allison (5 goals, 1 assist, 11 points, Scored a Hat Trick in a 3-2 win over LaRoche)
OUTLOOK: Coach Pam Snyder Etters loses just two seniors to graduation from last season. Watch for the Lions to rebuild and gain some experience to rebuild and move their way up the rankings come season’s end.
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PITT-GREENSBURG (BOBCATS)
LOCATION: Greensburg (PA)
COACH: Chuck Wigle (20-30-4 in 3 seasons)
2014 RECORD: 7-10-1
2014 CONF. RECORD: 3-5-1 (T6th in the AMCC)
THE CORNERSTONE: Sr./F Courtney Carroll (18 starts, 9 goals, 3 assists – All-AMCC Third team).
THE SUPPORTING CAST: So./MF Abigail Pasierb (5 goals, 4 assists); So./GK Shannon Edwards (108 saves, 3 shutouts), Jr./MF Alexandra Dimoff (2 goals, 1 assist).
OUTLOOK: Senior forward Courtney Carroll, junior Alexandra Dimoff and sophomore Abigail Pasierb will be the only Bobcats on the field with more than a single goal last season. Other roster players will need to step up for any chance of making the AMCC playoffs come November. The Bobcats put together a three-game win streak near the end of last season. Perhaps some of that spark coulds be carried into the Fall and with some lucky bounces, the Bobcats may make a run at an AMCC playoff berth.
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MOUNT ALOYSIUS (MOUNTIES)
LOCATION: Cresson (PA)
COACH: Matt Davis (7-10-1 in first season at Mount Aloysius)
2014 RECORD: 7-10-1
2014 CONF. RECORD: 0-8-1 (10th in AMCC)
THE CORNERSTONE: So./F Olivia Woodley (11 goals, All-AMCC Third Team).
THE SUPPORTING CAST: So./F Mary Durle (13 starts, 3 goals, 3 assists); So./MF Olivia Hannan (3 goals, 26 shots); Jr./GK Zara Apakoh (5 shutouts, 125 saves – led AMCC).
OUTLOOK: With some strong returning young players from last season, the Mounties could start to click. Coming off a strong non-conference 2014, some AMCC victories could be on the horizon for 2015.
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HILBERT (HAWKS)
LOCATION: Hamburg (NY)
COACH: Kelly Starchok (16-47-2 in 4 seasons)
2014 RECORD: 4-11-1
2014 CONF. RECORD: 1-7-1 (9th in the AMCC)
OUTLOOK: Half the Hawks losses in 2014 were within a single goal. While solid defense held opponents down, the offense will need to step it up and take advantage of opportunities missed during last season’s campaign.
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