CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – After winning three straight Skyline Conference women's soccer titles, it is no surprise that Farmingdale State College has been selected as the Skyline preseason favorite as selected by the conference's head coaches.

The Rams went 15-5-3 overall and 8-0-1 in Skyline Conference play last season.  Including two games in the Skyline tournament, the Rams outscored conference foes by a margin of 49-1.  Head coach Chris Roche should have another strong team this season as the Rams return their top nine goal scorers from a year ago.  Versatile junior Katrina Cerverizzo, an NSCAA All-East Region third-team selection, is capable of playing up front or in the back.  Sophomore Jamie Smith led the team in scoring as a freshman with 12 goals last season.  Fellow sophomore Christina Merrill led the team in assists with 10 while contributing seven goals.  Sophomore defenders Theresa Martorano and Jill Lasota also earned All-Skyline honors while anchoring the Rams' defense.  Two goalkeepers with starting experience also return for the young, but talented team.

Bard College, picked second with 88 points (two first-place votes), is also a talented, young squad.  In what appeared to have been a rebuilding year entering the 2009 season, the Raptors went unbeaten in Skyline play, going 5-0-4 during the regular season with a roster consisting primarily of freshmen and sophomores.  With no seniors on the roster again this season, head coach Bill Kelly has added another strong group of newcomers to a solid nucleus.  Junior Kim Larie earned Skyline Conference Player of the Year honors last season while playing both defender and midfielder.  Forward Jillian Sage, who had nine goals and three assists as a freshman, earned All-Skyline second-team honors.  Junior Erin Hannigan (five goals, five assists) is also a former all-conference selection..

Mount Saint Mary, which was picked third, must replace its top two scorers in graduated seniors Danielle Bucco and Lauren Dorsa.  The duo combined for 29 goals and eight assists while leading the Knights to a berth in the ECAC Metro Tournament.  Mount Saint Mary has just two seniors in All-Skyline goalkeeper Megan Cotta and defender Jennifer Nolan.  Junior Erin McKeon (five goals, six assists) is the squad's top returning scorer.  Head coach Frank Martini will look to a talented group of freshmen to make an immediate contribution.  Mount Saint Mary also opens its season with a new on-campus turf field - one of the top venues in the conference.

SKYLINE CONFERENCE WOMEN’S SOCCER
2010 PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL

1. Farmingdale State    (9) 99 
2. Bard                 (2) 88 
3. Mount Saint Mary         75 
4. Purchase                 67 
5. Sage                     62 
6. St. Joseph's-L.I.        58 
7. Old Westbury             57 
8. Maritime                 36 
9. Mount Saint Vincent      26
10. NYU-Poly                20 
11. Yeshiva                 17

(first-place votes in parentheses)