Western women's soccer picked to finish in second place in 2011 Little East Conference Pre-Season Coaches' Poll

official release from Jack Holleran - LEC Director of Communications

NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA (Aug. 24) — Eastern Connecticut State University has been projected as the preseason favorite to capture the 2011 Little East women’s soccer regular-season title this afternoon, according to a vote by the league’s eight coaches. The Warriors penned six out of the eight first-place votes into its ledger to earn the No. 1 ranking outright for the first time in program history after sharing top honors in the 2010 preseason survey.

Western Connecticut State University, the 2010 conference tournament champions, was listed first on the remaining two coaches’ ballots to outdistance themselves from Keene State College (54-50). University of Massachusetts Boston rounded out the top-half of the eight-team standings with 40 total points.

Under the direction of Chris D’Ambrosio, Eastern Connecticut enjoyed a record-setting season in 2010. The Warriors established a new single-season standard for victories with an overall record of 16-1-5, putting an additional win between the 2004 and 2002 squads. D’Ambrosio guided Eastern Connecticut to the program’s second outright Little East regular-season championship and the program’s highest ranking in the National Soccer Coaches’ Association Division III Top-25 poll (8th, Nov. 2, 2010). The 2010 squad made the program’s longest foray into the national tournament after earning an at-large invitation. The Warriors protected their home turf by defeating Worcester State University in the opening round 1-0 and advancing on penalty kicks against Wheaton College (Mass.) to earn a spot in the regional sectional semifinals. Eastern Connecticut saw its 21-match unbeaten streak come to a close against No. 9 Williams College at William Smith College in Geneva, N.Y.

The Warriors return nine starters and 15 letter winners from the 2010 squad. Eastern Connecticut, who is ranked No. 14 in the 2011 NSCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll, will welcome back five All-Little East student-athletes from a season ago. Junior Kelly Wallace (South Windsor, Conn.) made her debut on the all-conference first-team after scoring 16 points (5-6) in 22 matches, while seniors Jo-Ann Merheb (Bethel, Conn.), Amber Petrizzo (Plainville, Conn.), and Theresa Pagnozzi (Waterford, Conn.) joined junior striker Daniela Marchitto (Orange, Conn.) on the second-team. The Warriors open their 2011 schedule at 7:15 p.m. on Sept. 2, when Eastern Connecticut hosts Fitchburg State University.  

Head Coach Joe Mingachos guided Western Connecticut to the program’s ninth NCAA Division III Tournament appearance after raising its seventh Little East women’s soccer championship trophy in 2010. The Colonials posted an overall record of 15-5-1 a year ago, marking the 17th time in program history Western Connecticut has reached double digits in victories. The Colonials secured the No.2 seed in the conference tournament and edged the third-seeded Owls 1-0 in the semifinals. Two days later, Western Connecticut defeated the fourth-seeded Beacons 1-0 to claim the program’s fourth championship in the past five seasons. Western Connecticut entered the national tournament with a 13-match unbeaten streak (12-0-1), but was unable to overcome an early marker against the University of Rochester.   

The Colonials will welcome back seven starters and 15 letter winners from the 2010 campaign. Junior goalkeeper Caitlin Avery (East Hampton, Conn.) is set to begin her second season as the starter in net. The 2010 NSCAA All-New England, second-team selection sat atop the Little East individual standings in goals against average (0.45), while ranking second in save percentage (.857) and shutouts (8). Avery and Western Connecticut will begin its 2011 slate at 3 p.m. on Sept. 3 when the Colonials host Catholic University.

The top-six teams in the final regular season standings advance to the 2011 Little East Women’s Soccer Tournament with the top-two teams earning a first-round bye. The annual conference tournament will begin on Tuesday, Nov. 1 with two first round contests. The two winners will advance to travel to the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds for semifinal round action two days later. The Little East championship match is scheduled for Nov. 5 at the highest remaining seed. The conference champion will earn the automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Completing the annual preseason coaches’ survey in projected order of finish in the regular season standings are University of Southern Maine (26), Plymouth State University (23), Rhode Island College (18), and University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (15).

Initially formed in 1986 as a six-team men's and women's basketball conference, the Little East Conference will begin its 26th season of sponsoring intercollegiate athletic programs in 2011-2012. Western Connecticut State University joined the conference in 1993-1994, while Keene State College raised its current membership to eight teams in 1997-1998.