Women's Soccer: 2018 Season Preview

POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist women's soccer team opens its 2018 season Sunday afternoon, when the Red Foxes travel to take on the Binghamton Bearcats in non-conference action 1 p.m. The Marist women's soccer team kicked off its 2018 preparations in early August looking to build off last season's appearance in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships and put themselves into contention for the program's second ever MAAC title. The Red Foxes finished the 2017 campaign 8-8-3 overall and 5-3-2 in conference. The team eventually fell in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships to Siena, 1-0 to end its season. PRESEASON PREDICTIONS The Red Foxes have been tabbed for a seventh place finish in the 2018 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) preseason coach's poll, as voted on by the league's eleven head coaches. The five-time defending MAAC women's soccer regular season champions, Monmouth University, was selected as the preseason favorite in 2018. NEW FACES The team welcomes 11 new additions to the roster, three defenders, three midfielders, four forwards, and one goalkeeper. Marist will be led this year by first-year head coach Leigh Howard and assistants CC Cobb and Eric Bracy. Howard most recently served as an assistant coach at Bucknell for the past three seasons, helping the Bison reach back-to-back NCAA Tournaments and a 39-17-5 record in her tenure. CAPTAINS The Red Foxes will be led this season by junior Bianca Furci and senior Alexis Prisco. The team will also rely on leadership from the teams other four seniors, Kristen Reilly, Hope Quinonez, Tori Flaherty, and Sarah Haselkamp. ALL-MAAC Sophomore back Nicole Sasso is the Red Foxes' lone selection on the Preseason All-MAAC lineup. Sasso started in 18 of the Red Foxes 20 games and was a key piece for the team off the backline. Sasso scored three goals and tallied six points in her first season for Marist in route to an All-MAAC Rookie Team selection along with teammate Jillian Colucci. SUPER SCHEDULE After the Red Foxes' tough test against America East foe Binghamton, Marist's home opener for the 2018 season will be against Rhode Island on Sunday, September 2nd at 2 p.m. In non-conference play the Red Foxes will face a tough slate of games. Along with Binghamton, Marist will have road games against Maine, Vermont, Yale, Fordham, and Dartmouth. Marist will host Army West Point, as well as the aforementioned Rhode Island, to round out non-conference action. The Red Foxes kick off MAAC play on Saturday, September 22 with a road match against Iona on Saturday, September 22 at 11 a.m. MAAC TROPHY HUNT The 2018 MAAC Women's Soccer Championship takes place from October 28 to November 4, 2018. On Sunday, October 28 the No. 3 and 4 seeds will host the First Round, and No. 1 and 2 will host the Semifinals Thursday, November 1. The Highest Remaining Seed will host the Championship Game Sunday, November 4.