GORHAM, Maine – Capturing the Little East Conference regular season and tournament championship in back-to-back seasons (2022, 2023), the University of Southern Maine Huskies' women's soccer team has been picked to finish first in the 2024 Little East Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Huskies received six first place votes and totaled 62 points. Western Connecticut State University narrowly finished second in the polling with 59 points and three first place votes. UMass Boston was picked to finish third with 47 points.
Returning to the Hannaford Field pitch last week for preseason, the Huskies' begin their 2024 campaign under the guidance of first-year head coach
Martyn Keen. Keen took over the Huskies' post following the departure of Seth Benjamin '01 after six seasons. In the "Also Receiving Votes" category of the 2024 United Soccer Coaches (USC) Division III Preseason Poll, Southern Maine opens its 2024 season at home against Maine Maritime Academy on Friday, August 30 (6:00 pm).
The Huskies return five USC All-Region selections from 2023 to the fold this year, including USC All-American goalkeeper Bre Atwood (Franklin, Mass.), 2022 LEC Offensive Player of the Year
Catriona Gould (Freeport, Maine), 2024 LEC Defensive Player of the Year
Mia Sargent (Portland, Maine/Deering), 2022 LEC Rookie of the Year
Julia McKenna (Windham, Maine), and 2023 LEC Tournament MVP
Riley Reitchel (Palermo, Maine/Erskine Academy). In addition to Atwood, Gould, Sargent, McKenna, and Reitchel, the Huskies also return All-Little East performers
Kiki Huntress (Kittery Point, Maine/Traip Academy) and
Cierra Hill (Pembroke, N.H./Pembroke Academy).
The Huskies finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 16-2-4, and a perfect 10-0 mark at home on Hannaford Field. Southern Maine finished the 2023 Little East Conference unbeaten with a 6-0-2 record, outscoring its conference opponents 20-5. Earning a first-round bye in the 2023 LEC tournament as the conference's regular season champion, Southern Maine posted back-to-back shutout victories defeating UMass Boston 3-0 in the semifinal, and WestConn 3-0 in the final. Earning the program's second ever NCAA berth, the Huskies earned the program's first NCAA tournament win defeating No. 10 Rowan 2-0.
| 2024 Little East Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll (FPV) |
| 1. |
Southern Maine |
62 points |
(6) |
| 2. |
Western Connecticut |
59 points |
(3) |
| 3. |
UMass Boston |
45 points |
|
| 4 |
Keene State |
44 points |
|
| 5. |
Rhode Island College |
34 points |
|
| 6. |
Eastern Connecticut |
33 points |
|
| 7. |
UMass Dartmouth |
19 points |
|
| 8. |
VTSU-Castleton |
16 points |
|
| 9. |
Plymouth State |
12 points |
|
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