Women's Soccer Selected Third in NJAC Preseason Coaches Poll

Pitman, NJ – The Montclair State women's soccer team was selected in the No. 3 spot of the 2018 New Jersey Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll released on Tuesday. The Red Hawks were picked behind defending conference champion and Final Four participant The College of New Jersey which garnered seven of the 10 first-place votes from the league's head coaches. Rowan University was second and received the remaining three first-place votes. Kean University was chosen fourth with Stockton University, William Paterson University and Rutgers-Newark occupying positions 4-7, respectively. Rutgers-Camden was eighth and tabbed with the "dark horse" label. Ramapo and New Jersey City University round out the final two spots. MSU is coming off a 10-5-5 campaign, including a 6-1-2 mark in conference play. The Red Hawks defeated Rutgers-Newark in the first round of the NJAC Tournament before upending Rowan in penalty kicks in the semifinals. Montclair fell to TCNJ in the championship game, 1-0. The Red Hawks return a league-high five NJAC all-conference players from their 2017 NJAC runner-up squad, including senior back ASHLEY KOESTER, junior forward EMILY BEENDERS, senior forward MICHAELA KNOBLOCK, junior back MADDY MCLELLAND, and sophomore midfielder CATHERINE CARNEVALE. Montclair opens its season on Saturday, September 1 in Haverford, PA in the Haverford Kick Off Classic. The Red Hawks will face St. John Fisher in the first game. The Red Hawks will make their MSU Soccer Park debut on Wednesday, September 5 against New Paltz at 8:00 pm.