July 29, 2014

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - The Siena Women's Soccer team has been projected to finish third in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, as voted on by the conference's 11 head coaches. Sophomore back Tara Sobierajski was selected to the Preseason All-MAAC Team.

Defending MAAC Champion Monmouth (118 points) edged out last year's runner-up Fairfield (115) as the favorites to repeat as conference champions. The Saints received 83 points, followed closely by Marist (80), Iona (76) and Rider (76) to round out the top-five. Quinnipiac (57) was projected to finish seventh, followed by Niagara (46), Canisius (32), Manhattan (32) and Saint Peter's (13) to round out the poll.

Siena posted an 11-9-1 overall record last fall and finished tied for fifth in the MAAC with a 5-4-1 conference mark. The No. 6 seed in the MAAC Championships, the Saints defeated 11th seeded Saint Peter's and upset No. 3 seed Iona before falling in the conference semifinals to second seeded Fairfield. The Saints' 11 wins marked the program's highest total since Siena captured the 2010 MAAC Championship.

Fairfield striker Ashley Small was tabbed the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year. Monmouth led all schools with five Preseason All-MAAC selections on the 13-member squad.

A native of Rockaway, N.J., Sobierajski was named to the MAAC's Second, All-Rookie and All-Tournament Teams last season. The program's leading returning scorer, she started all 21 matches at center back last season tallying 11 points on four goals and three assists and scored two game-winning goals.

Siena welcomes eight freshmen to the program this fall and returns six starters and 17 letterwinners. The Saints kick off their 2014 campaign on Friday, August 22nd against Holy Cross at 4 p.m. on Siena Field.