Women's Soccer Picked Seventh in Landmark Conference Preseason Poll
The Landmark Conference released their Women's Soccer Preseason Poll yesterday and Juniata was selected seventh.
Scranton was selected first and received six first place votes while Moravian was second with two first place votes. Catholic slots in a third while Susquehanna and Elizabethtown are tied at fourth.
The Eagles are led by a large senior class. Carly Altenberg (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape) played in every game and started all but one of them, Maggie Pozenel (Croton-on Hudson, N.Y./Croton-Harmon) appeared in all 16 contests while Aubrie Christensen (Suwanee, Ga./Manheim Township) started 15 games and was second on the team in scoring. Nicole Saulnier (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) started every game last season at defense. Jessica Zavadak (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) appeared in 15 games while Lauren Lock (Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata) played in 13. Kristin Behrens (Jonestown, Pa./Lebanon Catholic), Elisabeth Hamme (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) and Mary-Claire Sei (San Gabriel, Calif./Gabrielino) all saw action off the bench last year.
Two senior goalkeepers return for Juniata, Kerry Leonard (Cockeysville, Md./Maryvale Prep) went 3-1 with two shutouts during her time on the field while Shannon Kriz (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) went 1-0-1 in two starts last year.
Juniors Elizabeth Bentz (Wolf, Pa./Northeastern) and Amanda Kopacz (Green Brook, N.J./Mount Saint Mary Academy) both started every game last season. Wynter Adams (Houtzdale, Pa./Moshannon Valley) saw the field in 15 games last season while Anna Kauffman (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area) played in 15 games, made 13 starts and was the leading goal scorer last season. Kristin Racis (Womelsdorf, Pa./Conrad Weiser) played in 10 games and started four in the previous campaign.
The returning sophomore class all saw the field last season. Samantha Bromley (Winder, Pa./Forest Hills) played in seven contests, Lydia Gladfelter (York, Pa./Central York) played in eight games, Brooke Rotheram (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East) saw the field in 13 games while Alexis Ulrich (Middletown, Pa./Middletown Area HS) played in seven.
The Eagles will open the season against Waynesburg, Friday at 5:30.
2017 Landmark Women's Soccer Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Scranton – 68 points (6)
2. Moravian – 54 points (2)
3. Catholic – 50 points
4. Susquehanna – 30 points
Elizabethtown – 30 points
6. Drew – 20 points
7. Juniata – 11 points
8. Goucher – 9 points