NEC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll

BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- The LIU Brooklyn women's soccer team has been picked to finish seventh in the Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches poll, it was announced by the league office Monday. Reigning champion Saint Francis U. earned the top spot in the poll with four first place votes, just ahead second place Fairleigh Dickinson with three first place votes.

Central Connecticut State and Bryant were selected for third and fourth place in the preseason poll, each picking up one first place vote. The remaining teams in the predicted order of finish were Sacred Heart, Robert Morris, LIU, Wagner and Mount St. Mary's.

The Blackbirds, under the leadership of second-year head coach and LIU alumna Eleri Earnshaw, return 18 letterwinners, including nine starters from last year's squad that went 3-12-2 overall and 1-6-1 in the NEC. LIU will also look to debut nine new players this season on the pitch, all freshman.

LIU will open the 2018 campaign on Friday, August 17 at home with an 11:00 a.m. tilt against Fairfield University, before going across the Hudson to New Jersey Institute of Technology on Sunday, August 19. The Blackbirds will begin conference play in Lorretto, Pa., against SFU, September 22.