NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - Following an upstart 2015 season where the Wilmington University women's soccer team finished fourth in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, the league's 13 head coaches have voted the Wildcats sixth in the 2016 CACC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll.
Second year head coach Jeff Zoyac will look to improve upon his 10-8 overall record from his first season, going 9-3 in the CACC to earn a home game in the CACC Tournament Quarterfinals. Zoyac brought in 15 student-athletes with his first full recruiting class for this season.
The CACC coaches voted the Wildcats sixth in the 2016 CACC Preseason Poll with 118 points, with one coach voting them atop the CACC Poll. Georgian Court was voted as the best team coming in, earning 156 points with five first-place votes.
Two-time defending CACC Tournament Champion Philadelphia earned 144 points and three first place votes to finish second while Holy Family wasn't far behind the Rams with 141 points and three first place votes. Caldwell rounds out the predicted semifinals with 124 points and one first place vote to finish fourth.
Post claimed 121 points for fifth place followed by the Wildcats with the final first place vote and 118 points. Felician garnered 96 points for seventh overall while Chestnut Hill rounded out the predicted CACC Tournament participants in eighth place with 66 points.
Goldey-Beacom earned 58 points to claim ninth place followed by Nyack (55 points), Dominican (39), Bloomfield (36), and Concordia (28).
The Wildcats begin their season on September 3 at Roberts Wesleyan with their CACC schedule beginning on September 10 at Dominican. The CACC Tournament takes the top eight teams from the regular season with the first round game scheduled for October 31. The advancing teams will compete in the CACC Tournament Semifinals on November 4 at Georgian Court. A champion will be crowned on November 6 in Lakewood, N.J.
AGATE:
2016 CACC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Georgian Court University – 156 points (5 first place votes)
2. Philadelphia University – 144 (3)
3. Holy Family University – 141 (3)
4. Caldwell University – 124 (1)
5. Post University – 121
6. Wilmington University – 118 (1)
7. Felician University – 96
8. Chestnut Hill College – 66
9. Goldey-Beacom College – 58
10. Nyack College – 55
11. Dominican College – 39
12. Bloomfield College – 36
13. Concordia College - 28