LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Women's Soccer took a major leap up in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Association (MAAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll from a year ago, vaulting up from ninth place to a third-place projection when the conference released the poll on Wednesday.
 
Defending MAAC champions Fairfield took the top spot, accruing 166 points including 11 first-place votes followed by last season's MAAC championship runners up Quinnipiac in the second position with 158 points and a pair of first-place votes as voted on the league's 13 head coaches.
 
The Saints, who finished in fourth place last season with a record of 7-3-2, were chosen third with 133 points.
 
Siena also boasted a league-high five selections on the Preseason All-MAAC team with junior forward Megan Stowell, junior midfielder Abby Daly, sophomore midfielder Catherine Rogers, senior defender Kam Vanderbosch and sophomore goalkeeper Cate Burns all being chosen to the 13-member squad.
 
Canisius was selected fourth in the poll (129 points) with Sacred Heart (105), Manhattan (91), Merrimack (84), and Iona (82) finishing out the top-eight spots. 
 
Rider (72), Marist (59), Niagara (48), Mount St. Mary's (31) and Saint Peter's (25) rounded out the last five spots. 
 
Fairfield had the second most Preseason All-MAAC team selections with four including the Preseason Player of the Year and unanimous choice in senior forward Maddy Theriault, sophomore forward Ashlyn Walsh, senior midfielder Sam Kersey and senior defender Meg Carragher. 
 
Canisius junior midfielder Lizzy Harkness, Quinnipiac senior defender Madison Alves, Iona sophomore goalkeeper Kayla Kalbaugh and Manhattan junior goalkeeper Molly Brunk were also named to the team. 
 
Led by three-time MAAC Championship head coach Steve Karbowski, the Saints return 21 players and added six freshmen as it will look to improve upon its MAAC Quarterfinal appearance from a year ago. 
 
The 2025 MAAC Women's Soccer Championship reverts back to its six-team, single-elimination championship after the top-eight teams qualified for the postseason in 2024.  Each match during the championship will be hosted by the higher seed and all rounds will be reseeded. The first round is slated for Sunday, November 2 with the Semifinals taking place Thursday, November 6 and the Championship Final scheduled for Sunday, November 9. 
 
Siena will begin its 46^th varsity campaign in just over a week's time, when they open for a second straight season hosting Lafayette next Thursday, August 14 at 4 p.m.