LOUDONVILLE, NY – Coming off back-to-back appearances in the MAAC Semifinals, Siena Women's Soccer will begin the 2022 campaign in search of its second conference title in three seasons. After finishing as the number four seed last season, the Saints were selected to finish fourth in the league in the 2022 MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll, the league revealed Thursday morning.
With defending MAAC Champion Monmouth having departed the league following last season, conference runner-up Quinnipiac was selected first in the poll, receiving 116 total votes and ten of 11 first place ballots. The Bobcats were followed by Niagara and Fairfield, who tallied 99 and 96 votes, respectively, to round out the top-three. Quinnipiac's Rebecca Cooke was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year, and headlined the 12-member Preseason All-MAAC Team.
The Saints picked up 81 votes to finish fourth, edging out both Iona and Marist, who tied for fifth with 70 ballots. Rider received 61 votes and the final first place ballot to land in seventh, while Manhattan (45), league newcomer Mount St. Mary's (33), Canisius (28), and Saint Peter's (27) rounded out the final four spots.
Led by 24
th year head coach
Steve Karbowski, Siena finished with a 9-9-2 mark during the Fall 2021 season, including a 6-4 mark in MAAC play which earned it the right to host a MAAC Quarterfinal match. The Saints played number five seed Iona to a 2-0 victory in the Quarterfinals before taking number two seed Quinnipiac to the brink on the road in the Semifinals, where they would fall in penalty kicks, 5-3.
The Green and Gold are set to return 15 letterwinners from last season, while welcoming in nine newcomers as part of the largest incoming class in program history. Four Saints return having scored multiple goals last season, while current redshirt-junior goalkeeper
Brooke Boermeester tallied a 6-3-1 record in-goal with a 1.07 goals-against-average and an .814 saves percentage last fall.
Siena will begin its 43
rd varsity season on Thursday, August 18 against Central Connecticut State in New Britain, Connecticut at 6 PM. The Saints will take the pitch at Hickey Field for the first time when they host Holy Cross on Sunday, August 21 at 1 PM, marking the first of nine home matches for the team this year.
| 2022 Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| 1 |
Quinnipiac |
116 (10) |
| 2 |
Niagara |
99 |
| 3 |
Fairfield |
96 |
| 4 |
Siena |
81 |
| T5 |
Iona |
70 |
| T5 |
Marist |
70 |
| 7 |
Rider |
61 (1) |
| 8 |
Manhattan |
45 |
| 9 |
Mount St. Mary's |
33 |
| 10 |
Canisius |
28 |
| 11 |
Saint Peter's |
27 |
| Preseason Player of the Year |
| Rebecca Cooke – Quinnipiac |
| Preseason All-MAAC Team |
| Player |
Position |
Year |
Institution |
| Elle Scott |
Forward |
Jr. |
Fairfield |
| Faith Preziosi |
Forward |
Gr. |
Iona |
| Djeynaba Thiam |
Forward |
Sr. |
Niagara |
| Rebecca Cooke |
Forward |
Jr. |
Quinnipiac |
| Chloe Fisher |
Forward |
Sr. |
Rider |
| Kedarjah Lewis |
Midfield |
So. |
Iona |
| Amanda Caldarelli |
Midfield |
Jr. |
Marist |
| Markela Bejleri |
Midfield |
Sr. |
Quinnipiac |
| Mackenzie Meixner |
Back |
Gr. |
Iona |
| Samantha Sturno |
Back |
Sr. |
Marist |
| Ida Miceli |
Back |
Gr. |
Niagara |
| Natalie Kelchner |
Goalkeeper |
Gr. |
Marist |
