WOMEN’S SOCCER PICKED FOURTH IN ECC COACHES’ TALLY

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (Aug. 26, 2009) - The Molloy College women's soccer team was selected to end up in fourth place out of eight squads as announced by the East Coast Conference on Wednesday, and voted upon by the head coaches of the league. The Lions enter the 2009 campaign following a fifth-place finish in the ECC last season, where they recorded an overall mark of 9-8-2 and a conference ledger of 5-4. The University of Bridgeport, which took home the 2008 ECC title, was selected to re-claim the crown.

For this year, Molloy is largely dependent on its newcomers as the Lions have 11 rookies. On the other hand, Molloy lost five of its starters - four of which were the leading scorers in Rockville Centre from one year ago. Part of the six returning to the lineup though is junior midfielder Dianna Geneva (Hicksville, N.Y.). Geneva dished out a pair of assists in 18 games played. Another is senior goalkeeper Christina Aquilon (Whitestone, N.Y.), who registered a 0.77 goals-against average. Both were also All-ECC third-team honorees.

The East Coast Conference Preseason Players of the Year came from Bridgeport in senior midfielder Emma Woolley (Sheffield, England) and junior forward Linda Velaj (Stamford, Conn.). From the defensive side, Woolley got 19 points (6 G, 7 A) last season in addition to helping the Purple Knights hold opponents to an average of 0.83 goals per game. On offense, Velaj led UB in scoring with 38 points on 16 markers and six assists. As a result, she was named the 2008 East Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

Head Coach Danny Longo and the Lions open the new season tomorrow when they start up a three-game road trip in New Haven, Conn. at Southern Connecticut State University. The opening kick is scheduled for 4 p.m.

2009 East Coast Conference Preseason Poll - Women's Soccer

1. Bridgeport (5 First-Place Votes)
2. C.W. Post (3 First-Place Votes)
3. Dowling
4. Molloy
5. NYIT
6. Queens
7. St. Thomas Aquinas
8. Mercy