Women's Soccer

August 16, 2007

WATERBURY, Conn.-The Post University women's soccer team was picked to finish fourth in the 2007 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll, released by the conference office this afternoon.

The Eagles, who finished last year with an 11-8-4 overall record and a 7-2-1 mark in the CACC, received 99 points in the poll by a vote of the 12 head coaches in the conference.  Philadelphia, who captured the CACC Championship last season, was the preseason favorite receiving 139 points and eight first place votes.

Holy Family was picked second, garnering 134 points and three first place votes, while Georgian Court rounded out the top three with 120 points and one first place vote.

Dominican finished fifth with 94 points, and was followed by Wilmington with 83 points, Caldwell 70 points, Goldey-Beacom 61 points, Felician 43 points, Nyack 41 points, Chestnut Hill 32 points, and Bloomfield 20 points.

Last season, the Eagles reached the semifinals of the CACC Championships and the ECAC Division II Championships. Post tied the school-record for wins in a season with 11 and set new program marks for wins with seven, and total points with 37.

The Eagles will be led by first-year Head Coach John Benitez who was a part of a very successful coaching staff at Western Connecticut State University. He helped guide the program to nine post-season appearances and six trips to the NCAA Division III Championship tournaments.  Last season, the Colonials advanced to the NCAA's with a 20-2-1 overall record and finished the year ranked number-two in the NSCAA Top-25 National Poll.

Post opens the season on Friday, Aug. 24 at the second-annual Connecticut Cup, at the University of Bridgeport. The Eagles will square off with the host Purple Knights in the first-round. The Eagles fell 2-0, to the Purple Knights in the Connecticut Cup last year, and 1-0, in the semifinals of the ECAC Championships. Post tangles with the University of New Haven in the second-round on Sunday, Aug. 26.

The Connecticut Cup features the four NCAA Division II women's soccer programs in the State of Connecticut, the University of Bridgeport, the University of New Haven, Post University, and Southern Connecticut State University. Last year's Connecticut Cup was held at Dodd Stadium on the New Haven campus.

Kickoff for both games is slated for 10 a.m.

Post opens the home portion of its schedule on Wednesday, Aug. 29 against Bentley College, with kickoff slated for 4 p.m. at LaMoy Field. Last season, the Eagles were 7-1-3 at home.