Kutztown, West Chester and Mercyhurst Selected as top teams in 2022 PSAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Polls

By Press release submission

Aug 18, 2022

Kutztown, West Chester and Mercyhurst women’s soccer teams were named favorites in the 2022 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Preseason Poll as voted on by the coaches, the league office announced Tuesday.

East

Kutztown emerged from the preseason poll with five first-place votes after a 2021 in which the Golden Bears posted a 15-1 conference record to finish first in PSAC regular season standings. Coming into 2022, the team remains under the leadership of 2021 Coach of the Year Erik Burstein, while 2021 PSAC East Division Athlete of the Year and D2CCA Third Team All-American Kayla Argen also returns to the roster.

Kutztown shares its spot atop the poll with West Chester who received four first-place votes. The Golden Rams finished 12-5-3 (11-3-2 PSAC) in 2021 before ending their season with an appearance in the Atlantic Region Final. West Chester brings back First Team All-Region selection and leading scorer Kaitlynn Haughey. After recording the highest save percentage in the conference, goalkeeper Hayley McGee returns as well.

Selected third, Bloomsburg enters the season as the reigning 2021 PSAC Women’s Soccer Champion. The Huskies will look to defend their title behind goalkeeper Alexa Ryan. Ryan led the league in shutouts with 14 in 23 games. The squad will also see the return of All-Atlantic Second Team defender Erin Ranegan.

Millersville placed fourth among coaches’ votes with 2021 All-Atlantic Regional Second Team selection Morgan Winchock returning. In fifth, Second Team All-PSAC defender Mirthe Bos is back for the East Stroudsburg Warriors.

Shippensburg, Shepherd, Lock Haven, and Mansfield round out the Eastern Division poll.

West

Mercyhurst sits alone atop the PSAC preseason rankings for the Western division. In 2021, the Lakers tallied a 12-3-1 conference mark to win the regular-season PSAC West title. Breakout athlete Emily Mijares comes back to lead the team following 2021 Western Division Athlete of the Year and Rookie of the Year campaign. Alongside Mijares, Taryn Baxter and Karah Van Horn return to form a trio of 2021 All-Atlantic Second Team selections.

Tabbed to finish second, the Gannon Golden Knights search for continued success under PSAC West Coach of the Year Colin Petersen. Petersen guided the Golden Knights to a second-place result in the West, going 11-2-3 in conference play. Leadership for Gannon will also come in the form of returning All-PSAC second-team duo, Kennedy Solymosi and Leah Bermudez.

Slippery Rock fills the third slot in the preseason poll after leading conference in shots, goals, and assists last season. 2022 returners include Second Team All-Atlantic Region selection Nina King, as well as goalkeeper Emma Yoder who started each game for The Rock and secured eight shutouts.

Selected fourth, Edinboro brings back their second-leading scorer in Reece Enochs. Forward and leading scorer, Corynna Rotoli, returns for the Seton Hill Griffins.

Pitt-Johnstown, IUP, Clarion, and California (Pa.) fill out the rest of the poll.

The 2022 PSAC women’s soccer season begins Thursday, August 25.

The full PSAC Preseason Polls are listed below:

PSAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Polls

EAST (# of 1st place votes)

T1. Kutztown (5)

T1. West Chester (4)

3. Bloomsburg

4. Millersville

5. East Stroudsburg

6. Shippensburg

7. Shepherd