Posted: Aug 24, 2022

Griffins Edge Out Webster as Women's Soccer Favs

Fontbonne narrowly edged out Webster University as the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Soccer preseason favorites according to the league coaches. The two teams evenly split the first-place votes while Fontbonne picked up two additional total points to earn the preseason nod. The Griffins went 15-3-2 overall last season, and completed a second straight undefeated regular season in conference play while winning the program's first tournament title since 1996. Head Coach Dylan Cassidy returns just five starters from last season but among that group is the conference leader in assists last year, Krystal Kohenskey. The forward recorded 7 goals and 14 assists, finishing second on the team with 28 points and earning All-Conference honors. Midfielder Caitlyn Smith and defender Libby Bateman were also All-Conference performers last fall. The Griffins also bring back Katie Leeker, a midfielder that played in all 20 games as a freshman last year. Mary Beers will be back once again to guard the net. Beers ranks in the top ten in league history in wins (35), goals-against average (0.77), and shutouts (24). Transfers Carlie Smith and Bianca Cortez-Perez as well as freshman Cassidy Head should factor into the team's success.

Webster University received 44 total points and the remaining first-place votes. Head Coach Luigi Scire has plenty to like coming into this season. He returns all 11 starters and 20 total players from last year's squad that was 16-4-1 overall and 11-2-1 in conference play. The experienced Gorloks are led by goalkeeper Taryn Banfield. The senior was the SLIAC Defensive Player of the Year last year when she carried a 0.65 goals-against average and stopped 83 percent of shots she faced while recording the 3rd most shutouts in league history with 11. Reaghan Young plays the key defender role for the Gorloks and along with midfielder Jordan Bilyeau will look to control the flow of the game. Jordan Lande and Mackenzie Sundhausen will be the team's top two offensive threats once again after finishing 1-2 in scoring last season. Lande earned All-Region honors after tallying 18 goals and 6 assists while Sundhausen put up 9 goals and 5 assists while earning SLIAC Newcomer of the Year.

Greenville finished with 36 total points in the voting. The Panthers went 11-8 overall and 10-4 in the SLIAC last season with head coach Jeff Wardlaw. They bring back seven starters including three-time All-Conference player Jen De Leon De Leon. The midfielder finished with a team-high 9 goals last season, adding 4 assists. Her midfield partners, Emma Cadwell (4 goals, 7 assists) and Vanessa Ramirez (1 goal) were also All-Conference performers last season. The back line will be guarded by seniors Maddie Missey and Kiera Coleman. Top newcomers include Alexis Romeo, Ashlie Cabral, and Addi Miller.

Placing 4th on the poll with 31 points was Westminster College. Head Coach Courtney Howe guided the Blue Jays to a 7-9-1 overall record in her first year with the program. This season she brings back all 11 starters including a trio of All-Conference standouts. Rachel Nolte led the team in scoring with 8 goals and 6 assists last season while defender Maddy Lawton (2 goals, 3 assists) and goalkeeper Megan Davidson (1.53 G.A.A.) will form the basis of the team's defense. Also back is midfielder Kelsey Gordon and defender Abbey Montana. A handful of newcomers should see the field including Hannah Shylanski, Payton Montana, and Mackenzie Smelser.

Spalding University was picked 5th with 28 points. The Golden Eagles will be led by first-year head coach Jordan Vejar. He returns seven starters on a team that finished 10-8-2 overall. He has two key pieces to form his team around in forward Baeli Young and defender Dori Emig. Young led the team in scoring last season with 15 goals and 5 assists; netting five game-winning goals and earning First Team All-Conference honors. Emig meanwhile also picked up First Team honors as the team's top defender and added 3 goals and 3 assists on offense. Also returning this year is a trio of midfielders in Kara Krueger (5 goals, 4 assists), Juli Nelson (1 goal, 4 assists), and Tayler Mahoney (2 goals, 1 assist). Coach Vejar will work freshman forward Elle Trentman into the lineup.

Finishing 6th with 17 points is Principia College. Principia finished 4-12-1 last season and will be led by first-year head coach Samuel Thomas. Thomas takes over a team that returns seven starters. One of those starters is the team's lone All-Conference player from last year, forward Georgia Rather. Rather recorded 6 goals and 4 assists for the Panthers last season. Senior Viviane De Castro is also back and was second on the team in scoring with 8 points. Defenders Kaija Ufert and Olivia Scott will play big roles. Goalkeeper Leslie Barrera made 120 saves in 16 starts last season as a freshman. Coach Thomas has quickly added to his team depth with three transfers in Sophia Sacco, Mirsa Boyer, and Angy Leano.

Blackburn College and Eureka College each picked up 11 points in the voting. Blackburn will look to continue to build the program under head coach John Mansholt. The Beavers return nine players including several experienced members. Libby Adams led the team with 2 goals and 1 assist last season and is joined by fellow seniors Molly Koskey, Jada Lurry, and Izzy Erickson. Also back is junior midfielder Sophie King. The Beavers will have to replace goalkeeper Morgan Zobrist, who completed her career with the 3rd most saves in SLIAC history. Among the new faces that should see time are Janelle Naumann, Kara Mantia, and Kayla Mantia.

Eureka College went 4-14 overall last season with head coach Shelby Chrisman-Forza. The four wins are the most by the program since 2015 and equal the number of wins from the previous five years combined. The Red Devils return six starters and bring in nine new players. An experienced group of midfielders will be the focus of the team. Seniors Daniela Gonzales and Christine Mepham team up with junior Hope Binder to control the midfield. Up top Alyssa Bryant made 14 starts as a freshman last year, scoring one goal. Among the group of newcomers to the program that are expected to compete for time are freshman defenders Ellie Livengood and Sydney Gabbard as well as freshman keeper Lizzie Brooksher.