2018 Monroe Mustangs Women’s Soccer Season Preview

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., August 24, 2018 – With almost all of its production returning from 2017, Monroe Mustangs women's soccer opens the 2018 season ranked No. 16 in the NJCAA Division I Women's Soccer preseason poll, looking to return to the postseason for the first time since 2015. The Mustangs are coming off a 7-5 finish that included upset victories over No. 2 Monroe Community College in overtime in the season opener and No. 4 Daytona State in a neutral-site matchup. Monroe finished the year ranked No. 11 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. A trio of freshmen: Juliana Pires, Yolanda Albalat and Angie Ponce, led the way in 2017, and all return for their sophomore season. Pires and Albalat tied for the team lead with eight goals apiece, while Pires also finished with the most assists (6) and points (22). Ponce finished third on the team with five goals, adding two assists for a total of 12 points. In total, 16 Mustangs are back for their sophomore seasons, including Alba Gonzalez and Kayla Notarnicola, each of whom tallied a goal last season. Monroe will face a tough schedule this season, with six matchups against five teams ranked in the Top-10 of the NJCAA Div. I Women's Soccer Preseason Poll. Monroe will face their Region XV rival, No. 3 ASA College, twice, as well as No. 4 Eastern Florida State, No. 7 Daytona State, No. 8 Harford Community College and No. 10 Monroe Community College. The Mustangs open the season with 10-straight games on the road before playing their final two matches at home against Essex County College and the ASA. The Mustangs head to Baltimore, Md. this weekend for the CCBC-Essex Tournament, taking on the Knights on Saturday, Aug. 25 at 11 a.m. in their season opener before wrapping up the weekend against No. 8 Harford Community College on Sunday, Aug. 26 at 12 p.m. ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 26 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's rugby, and the newly added club women's rugby team, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, will have six teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level beginning in the fall of 2017. For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe College Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).