Women's Soccer Ranked In First-Ever NEAC Preseason Poll

FULL RESULTS: NEAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll (PDF)

GANSEVOORT, N.Y. – The Wells College women's soccer team was ranked seventh out of 13 teams in the first-ever North Eastern Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Poll, announced Wednesday afternoon. The final rankings were determined following a poll of the league's 13 head coaches.

Wells, who finished the 2014 season with a 5-7 record within the North Eastern Athletic Conference, lost only two seniors to graduation. The team returns nine starters from the year prior and welcomes eight incoming freshman and two transfer students to the mix in 2015. Piloted by second-year Head Coach Mara Primmer, the Express enter their 36th season as a varsity program in search of a return to the postseason.

"I am pleased with our collective effort so far this preseason," remarked Primmer. "I believe the team has improved their fitness and our incoming class of players will allow us to raise our level of play within the conference. I am eager for the upcoming season to begin and to see what is in store for our team."

Losing only six points of offense (1-4=6) from the year prior, Wells returns its top four scorers from the year prior. Senior Heather Hiltbrand (Fayetteville, N.Y.) scored a team-leading 10 goals on offense while sophomore Yanna Ososkalo (Lyme, N.Y.) tallied five goals and a team-best seven assists as a freshman. Senior Karley Raczynski (Fonda, N.Y.) blasted a career-best five goals while sophomore Madison Maloney (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) potted three goals and added an assist from the midfield.

Penn St.-Berks grabbed 142 points in the poll, placing first after receiving 10 of the 12 allowable first-place votes. Penn St.-Abington secured a pair of first-place votes and placed second with 131 total points. Lancaster Bible reeled in the final first-place vote and finished third with 120 points. Keuka, the SUNY Polytechnic Institute and Cazenovia round out the top-six vote getters.

Wells opens their season on Tuesday, Sept. 1 as they host SUNY Canton at 5:30 p.m. on the South Athletic Field. Following a three-game road trip, the Express return home to host the Mavericks of Medaille College at 5:15 p.m. Wells opens NEAC play against Lancaster Bible on Friday, Sept. 18 on the road.

2015 NEAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll Full Results