PITMAN --- TCNJ, fresh off another NJAC title and a run to the national title game, locked up the preseason No. 1 spot in the conference’s preseason poll for 2022. The poll is conducted among the league’s 10 head coaches.
 
The Lions picked up nine first place votes. Rowan, tabbed second in this year’s poll, picked up a first place vote as well. Montclair State was picked third, followed by Stockton in fourth and Kean in fifth. Rutgers-Camden is predicted to be in playoff contention with a sixth place vote. William Paterson was predicted seventh, followed by dark horse selection Rutgers-Newark in eighth. Ramapo and NJCU round out the poll.
 
TCNJ enters the 2022 season also ranked No. 2 nationally in the United Soccer Coaches organization preseason poll. Although the Lions lose the services of four 2021 NJAC First Team honorees, they return all top three scorers and seven of their top nine from that national finalist squad. Among the returnees are 2021 NJAC Midfielder of the Year Gianna Coppola and Rookie of the Year Ava Curtis. Coppola registered 17 points on seven goals and three assists last year. Sophie Vieira (9 goals, 3 assists, 21 points) and Emma Pascarella (7 goals, 4 assists, 18 points) are also back in potent Lion offense. Curtis returns to anchor the Lions’ staunch defense which allowed just two goals in NJAC play and eight total last year. The lineup may look very familiar, but the sidelines will have a new look as Leah McDermott becomes just the second head coach in Lions’ program history following the retirement of Joe Russo. McDermott is no stranger to the national stage herself, playing on three national title teams at Messiah. She spent the past four seasons as the head coach at Lebanon Valley.
 
Rowan, tabbed second for this season, features a young but very hungry lineup after the Profs pushed TCNJ to penalty kicks in a scoreless 2021 NJAC championship game last season. The Profs look to replace the scoring of Aidan Sheehan, who was tied atop the NJAC with 23 points last year. Emma DeMaise, an all-conference back, returns after posting the second-most points on the 2021 squad with 10 on four goals and two assists. She also started all 19 games and helped the Prof defense limit opponents to just 14 total goals last year (0.70 per game). Natalie Pantalone and Nina Carlson also look to step up after posting eight points each last season to tie for third on the squad. Head Coach Scott Leacott welcomes Messiah transfer Manon Bada, who saw action in 20 games on the Falcons’ vaunted defense. He also welcomes a handful of solid newcomers in high school teammates Lianna SanFelice and McKenna Williams (Kingsway Regional) along with Olivia Giordano (Millville) and Kylie Casper (Schalick).
 
Montclair State returns a key core from last year’s squad that went 7-2 in conference play, including 2021 NJAC Offensive Player of the Year Aileen Cahill along with all-conference honorees Emmi DeNovellis and Tara Lambert. Cahill, a two-time all-conference pick, posted 19 points on seven goals and five assists last year. DeNovellis was a Second Team honoree as a rookie in 2021 after leading the team in assists (6) and chipping in two goals. Lambert contributed nine points on three goals and three helpers last year. DeNovellis and Lambert also anchored the Red Hawk defense that held opponents under a goal per game (0.91). Head Coach Pat Naughter welcomes a strong group of newcomers, including Division I transfer Kat Stangl (Bryant), Ashley Defrancesco (Scotch Plains-Fanwood), and Cait Kerr (West Deptford). Stangl started nine of 14 games on Bryant’s defense that posted six shutouts last year.
 
Stockton brings back a strong group of all-conference performers in what should be another solid year for the Ospreys. Three-time all-conference honoree Sydney Williams is back for a fifth year after tying for the NJAC’s top-scoring honors last year with 23 points. She led all conference players with nine assists to go along with seven goals. Sophomores Emily Hauck and Sophia Drea both earned all-conference honors last season as rookies. Hauck, a midfielder, contributed to the Ospreys’ offense with 12 points on four goals and four assists. Drea started all 22 games in the back field while also chipping in two goals and an assist. Head Coach Nick Juengert welcomes a pair of rookie forwards who look to make an immediate contribution, including Jess Lefkop (Ridley (PA)) and Logan Shaw (Rancocas Valley).
 
Kean features strong leadership looking to improve upon last season’s record. A pair of Second Team All-NJAC honorees in Gracie Casais and Celine Brady look to lead the team. Casais is the leading returning scorer after registering 10 points on four goals and two assists on the Cougars’ balanced scoring squad. Brady, two-time all-conference pick, anchors the center midfield. Sophomore keeper Julia Masucci is back after gaining great experience in her rookie season. She started 10 of 13 games last year, posting five shutouts and sporting a .839 save percentage. Head Coach Brian Doherty looks for his solid group of returning leadership to gel quickly with a large contingent of newcomers. Among the newcomers are transfer Renee Rocha (Montclair State) along with backs Lindsey Swanger (Chambersburg Area (PA)) and Megan Nicita (Parsippany Hills), midfielder Kelly Zambrana (North Warren), and forward/mid Emeral Neloms (Ridley (PA)).
 
Rutgers-Camden brings back a hard-working group of returners this season. Lindsey Hernandez, the Scarlet Raptors’ top scorer in 2021, returns for her senior season. The midfielder is a two-time all-conference pick. She is joined by fellow senior Maggie Horn in the midfield. Horn was a Second Team honoree two seasons ago, and started all but one game she appeared in last season. The Raptors need to replace the services of four-time All-NJAC back Breana Winder, but have a capable defender in Amy Maurer to step up to lead the defense. Maurer played over 1,000 minutes as a rookie last year. Head Coach Steve Weaver welcomes several newcomers vying for playing time, including rookie forward Maresa Savarese (Schalick) and midfielder Sam O’Shaughnessy (Washington Twp.)
 
William Paterson’s squad includes strong leadership and experienced attackers looking to step up even more after winning nine games last year. Top scorer Julia Fiorito is back for her junior season after posting a team-high six goals last year. Senior Lindsay Ash looks to lead the midfield unit after starting 16 of 19 games last year and chipping in a goal and assist. The Pioneers’ defense is very young with a sophomore and three rookies slated for the starting roles, but sophomore Hailey Nelson gained a vast amount of experience last year with over 1,450 minutes of playing time and starting all 19 games. Head Coach Keith Woods welcomes Division II transfer Abby Lonergan, who started 13 of 14 games and scored two goals for Bloomfield College last year, along with a solid group of rookies who will be in the starting mix.
 
Rutgers-Newark brings back a solid core group from last year’s team that posted 10 wins. Senior forward Tamia Howell returns; she was the Scarlet Raiders’ top scorer last year with 19 points on eight goals and three assists, which also ranked her fifth in the NJAC in goals and points. NJAC First Team honoree Bailey Kellenberger and fellow all-conference mid Leila Ettayebi also provide leadership on the experienced squad. Katie McLaughlin is back for her second year in goal for the Raiders. An all-conference pick as a rookie, McLaughlin recorded an .812 save percentage last year along with two shutouts and 5.86 saves per game. Jonathan Bilbao is serving as the interim head coach for this season; an assistant for the men’s soccer program since 2017, Bilbao brings with him a slew of experience both as a coach and a player. He played professionally for the New Jersey Ironmen before spending time in Portugal and Malta.
 
A trio of solid all-conference players headline the Ramapo team for this coming season, including all three top scorers from 2021. Carla Goodwin, a Second Team pick last season, is the leading returning scorer after posting 11 points on five goals and an assist. Fellow senior Lauren Vladyka posted nine points on three goals and three assists and was a Second Team honoree two years ago. Classmate Sam Ingannamorte chipped in six points on two goals and two helpers last year, and was also a Second Team pick as a rookie two seasons ago. Head Coach Abby Shiffler also looks for newcomer Mia Santana (Lenape Valley Regional) to make immediate contributions to the Roadrunner back field.
 
NJCU features a solid experienced group along with a strong handful of newcomers. Two-time all-conference pick Kim Brites was the top scorer for the Gothic Knights last year, registering 19 points on nine goals and one assist. She was second in the NJAC in points per game, third in total goals, and fifth in total points. She is joined by 2020-21 all-conference back Arame Diouf, who also has the capability to score goals as she chipped in three last year. Junior Shea Ramirez also brings experience to the midfield after starting all 15 games as a sophomore. Head Coach Anthony Tuesta is also excited for a group of newcomers who he expects to contribute right away, including junior college transfer Hailey Goncalves (Union CC) along with midfielder Rebecca Lopez (Mountain View (CA)) and forward Jessica Digristina (Cherokee).
 
The 2022 season kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 1, when five of the 10 teams are in action. The remainder will open over Labor Day weekend.

2022 NJAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll (first place votes in parentheses)
1. TCNJ (9)
2. Rowan (1)
3. Montclair State
4. Stockton
5. Kean
6. Rutgers-Camden
7. William Paterson
8. Rutgers-Newark (dark horse)
9. Ramapo
10. NJCU