PITMAN--After advancing to the fourth round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament en route to an 18-3-1 overall record, The College of New Jersey was selected as the 2015 preseason women’s soccer favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Lions will be seeking their 17th NJAC championship since the inception of women’s soccer as an NJAC championship sport back in 1994. 

The 2014 Lions finished second in the NJAC regular season race with an 8-1 record in league play before playing to 1-1 draw in the NJAC Tournament Championship Match, but falling in penalty kicks  to eventual champion Montclair State. After earning an at-large selection to the 2014 NCAA Tournament, TCNJ produced three consecutive NCAA victories over Allegheny, William Smith and Misericordia before falling to eventual national semifinalist Williams.

TCNJ, which garnered 6-of-the-10 first-place votes cast by the league coaches, will be led by the longest-tenured NJAC women’s soccer coach in 26th-year leader Joe Russo. Under the direction of Russo, the Lions have produced an overall record of 452-57-34. TCNJ returns four all-conference players from its 2014 NJAC runner-up squad, including junior forward Christine Levering, junior back Brianna Petro, senior back Brianna Cummings, and the 2014 NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore midfielder Jessica Goldman.

Montclair State University, which captured the 2014 NJAC Championship for its second league title in the last three years and its third conference crown overall, was selected to place second and received four first-place votes. The 2014 Red Hawks claimed the NJAC regular season championship with an 8-0-1 league record and then defeated TCNJ in penalty kicks in the NJAC Tournament Championship Match after playing to a 1-1 draw. As the NJAC automatic qualifier, MSU proceeded to garner NCAA Tournament wins over Lesley and Connecticut College before falling to eventual national champion Lynchburg en route to a 19-2-2 overall record. Led by sixth-year head coach Patrick Naughter, MSU has produced an overall mark of 75-18-11 under his leadership. The Red Hawks return a pair of all-conference players from their 2014 NJAC Championship squad, including senior forward Martina Landeka and senior back Janae Geonnetti.

Rowan University, which finished 12-6-1 overall in 2014, was selected to place third. The 2014 Profs finished fourth in the NJAC regular season with a 6-2-1 mark in league play. Led by 17th-year head coach Scott Leacott, the Profs have produced an overall record of 222-69-22 during his tenure in Glassboro.

The coaches’ dark horse selection, Stockton University was selected to place fourth. The 2014 Ospreys earned a berth in the ECAC Metro/Upstate Tournament, advancing to the ECAC Championship Match en route to a 15-9 overall record. Now in his 13th-year at the helm of the Stockton program, Nick Juengert has guided the Ospreys to an overall mark of 178-75-25. Stockton returns a pair of all-conference players from its 2014 ECAC Tournament squad in junior midfielder Adrianna Boucher and senior midfielder Marissa Bruno. 

Kean University, under the leadership of 17th-year head coach Brian Doherty, was selected to place fifth. The 2014 Cougars finished 10-7-2 overall while improving Doherty’s career collegiate coaching record to 148-122-36. Kean will return a pair of all-conference players from its 2014 squad in sophomore back Kelly Williamson and senior goalkeeper KC Nunez.

Rutgers University-Newark, which earned its first NJAC Tournament berth in program history in 2014, was selected to place sixth. The 2014 Scarlet Raiders also earned a berth in the ECAC Metro/Upstate Tournament, advancing to the ECAC Championship Match en route to a 14-8-2 overall record. Newark returns four all-conference players from its 2014 ECAC runner-up squad, including senior midfielder Cristina Estremera, junior forward Paige Lazar, senior midfielder Sara Corson, and junior back Victoria Benet. Rutgers-Newark will be led by new first-year head coach Ariana Ruela.

Ramapo College, which finished 5-10-2 overall in 2014, was selected to place seventh. Fourth-year head coach Abby Shiffler has led the Roadrunners to 20 victories under her leadership. Ramapo returns four all-conference players from its 2014 squad, including sophomore forward Gabriella DiLiberto, senior forward Nicole Ninomiya, senior midfielder Autumn Herring, and senior back Rebecca Galarza.

William Paterson University, led by 19th-year head coach Keith Woods, was selected to place eighth. The Pioneers have produced a 178-128-32 overall record under Woods, including a mark of 5-10-3 in 2014. William Paterson returns one all-conference player from the 2014 season in senior midfielder Gina Cowdrick.
Rutgers University-Camden, which will be led by new first-year head coach David Hodgson, was selected to place ninth. Hodgson inherits a Scarlet Raptors squad which finished 6-11-1 overall in 2014 and returns one all-conference performer in junior forward Catherine Fiore. 

New Jersey City University, under the leadership of third-year head coach Mike Vivino, was selected to place 10th. The 2014 Gothic Knights posted a 3-10-2 overall record.  
The 22nd season of NJAC women’s soccer will kick off on Tuesday, September 1 with five league teams in non-conference action. The first conference matches of the season will take place just 18 days later on Saturday, September 19. 

The top six regular season finishers will advance to the NJAC Championship Tournament which will begin with first round action on Saturday, October 31. The NJAC Tournament semifinals will be conducted on Tuesday, November 3, and the league championship match will be played at the site of the highest remaining seed on Friday, November 6. The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.

2015 NJAC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll

1. TCNJ (6)

2. Montclair State (4)

3. Rowan

4. Stockton (dark horse)

5. Kean

6. Rutgers-Newark

7. Ramapo

8. William Paterson

9. Rutgers-Camden

10. New Jersey City

First Place Votes In Parentheses