CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - With the 2018 season exactly one week away, sophomore Anna Heilferty of the Boston University women's soccer team headlined four Terrier selections to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team in being named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, as announced by the league Thursday.

BU led the league with four student-athletes named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team, as Julianna Chen, McKenna Doyle and Dorrie Varley-Barrett joined Heilferty on the list. As a team, the Terriers were predicted to finish second overall in the league and received six first-place votes.

Heilferty, the reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Year, is the first sophomore to be named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year since Army's Kim An earned the nod in 2011. The Falls Church, Virginia native tabbed 13 points on five goals and three assists and is the team's leading returning scorer.

Doyle also had a nose for the goal last season, tallying three goals and two assists. Chen and Varley-Barrett are both coming off All-Patriot League Second Team campaigns and have been starters at the midfield for the past three years.

Navy was predicted to defend its Patriot League title as it received 154 points and 11 first-place votes. BU trailed by 12 points, while Colgate (125), Bucknell (118), Lehigh (98), Army (72), Lafayette (63), Holy Cross (59), Loyola (37) and American (26) rounded out the poll.

Voting for both the preseason poll and All-Patriot League Team was conducted by the women's soccer head coaches and sports information directors who were not permitted to vote for their own team or student-athletes.

BU will open the 2018 season on Thursday, Aug. 16 at Michigan. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Anna Heilferty, Boston U., So. F
Patriot League Preseason Midfielder of the Year: Mara Cosentino, Colgate, Jr. M
Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Jackson, Navy, Jr., D

Women's Soccer Preseason All-Patriot League Team
McKenna Doyle, Boston U, Sr., F
Anna Heilferty, Boston U., So., F
Abby Sotomayor, Colgate, Jr., F
Maggie Wadsworth, Lehigh, Jr., F
Julianna Chen, Boston U., Sr., M
Dorrie Varley-Barrett, Boston U., Sr., M
Mara Cosentino, Colgate, Jr., M
Sydney Witham, Army, Sr., D
Leah Lewis, Colgate, Jr., D
Alex Jackson, Navy, Jr., D
Sydney Fortson, Navy, Jr., GK

Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
Navy – 154 (11 first-place votes)
Boston University – 142 (6 first-place votes)
Colgate - 125 (1 first-place vote)
Bucknell – 118 (2 first-place votes)
Lehigh – 98
Army – 72
Lafayette – 63
Holy Cross – 59
Loyola Maryland – 37
American – 26