Women's Soccer Tops Patriot League Preseason Poll
August 19, 2013 | Women's Soccer
Aug 19, 2013
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Primed for its inaugural season in the Patriot League, the Boston University women’s soccer team was selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2013 Patriot League title in a poll of the League’s head coaches and sports information directors.
The Terriers also placed a pair of seniors on the preseason All-Patriot League Team. Senior Madison Clemens was selected as the preseason Offensive Player of the Year after earning America East All-Conference First Team honors in addition to NSCAA All-Region Third Team honors last season. She led BU with eight goals in 2012.
Joining Clemens on the preseason All-Patriot League team is classmate Emma Clark. The 2012 America East Midfielder of the Year also garnered NSCAA All-Region honors a season ago.
Led by 19th-year head coach Nancy Feldman, BU received 12 first-place votes to accumulate 152 points and the top spot in the poll. Navy, the 2012 Patriot League regular season champion, was picked to finish second with four first-place votes and a total of 144 points. Colgate, the 2012 Patriot League Champion, also received four first-place votes and a total of 138 points.
Fellow Patriot League newcomer Loyola was selected to finish fourth with 101 points followed by Army (98), Lehigh (73) and Bucknell (69). American and Holy Cross tied for eighth with 47 points each while Lafayette rounds out the 10-team poll with 31 votes.
Despite the loss of the NSCAA All-America Third Team honoree Jessica Morrow, the Terriers return 10 starters and 22 letter winners from last year’s squad that finished 12-6-1 and captured its sixth straight America East regular-season title with a perfect 8-0-0 mark in conference play.
In addition to Clemens and Clark, the Terriers return All-Conference Second Team honorees Megan McGoldrick, Erin Mullen and Ana Cuffia along with All-Rookie Team members McKenzie Hollenbaugh and Clare Pleuler.
This is the 10th consecutive season that the Terriers have been selected to win their conference’s regular-season crown, as BU was the preseason favorite in their last nine seasons as members of the America East. BU enters the Patriot League after a dominant run in the America East, including 10 regular-season titles and nine conference championships. The Terriers have made 10 NCAA tournament appearances, including seven straight trips from 2005 to 2011.
BU begins the 2013 season on Friday, Aug. 23, when the Terriers welcome Dayton to Nickerson Field. Opening kick is set for 7 p.m.
2013 Patriot League Preseason Poll
(First-place votes in parentheses)
| School | Points | 2012 Record |
| Boston U. | 152 (12) | 12-6-1 (8-0-0- AE) |
| Navy | 144 (4) | 19-2-1 (6-0-1 PL) |
| Colgate | 138 (4) | 11-6-4 (4-1-2) |
| Loyola | 101 | 12-6-4 (6-2-1 MAAC) |
| Army | 98 | 8-10-0 (3-4-0 PL) |
| Lehigh | 73 | 5-13-0 (3-4-0 PL) |
| Bucknell | 69 | 10-9-0 (3-4-0 PL) |
| American | 47 | 6-10-3 (4-2-1 PL) |
| Holy Cross | 47 | 6-11-1 (2-5-0 PL) |
| Lafayette | 31 | 4-12-2 (1-6-0 PL) |
2013 Preseason All-League Team
| Player | Year | Pos. |
| Madison Clemens, Boston U. | Sr. | F |
| Jenna Raepple, Colgate | Jr. | F |
| Catherine Williams, Colgate | So. | F |
| Ashlynn Soellner, Navy | Sr. | F |
| Joey Molacek, Army | Sr. | F |
| Emma Clark, Boston U. | Sr. | M |
| Caroline Brawner, Colgate | Jr. | M |
| Molly McGuigan, Army | Sr. | D |
| Jade Seabrook, Navy | Jr. | D |
| Paige Elliott, Lehigh | So. | D |
| Elizabeth Hoerner, Navy | Sr. | GK |
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year - Madison Clemens, Boston U., Sr., F
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year - Jade Seabrook, Navy, Jr., D
