WEST BABYLON, N.Y. (Aug. 16, 2022) – The Mercy College women's soccer team has been picked to finish first in the East Coast Conference (ECC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the conference office earlier today. The Mavericks top the poll for the second straight season.

Mercy topped the poll with four first-place votes and 75 votes overall. Molloy was selected second with four first-place votes and 72 votes overall. Daemen racked up one first-place vote and 66 votes overall to come in third. Molloy's Lexi Verni and Sarah Tappeto were named Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.

The Mavericks enter the 2022 season looking to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for a fifth straight season and make the ECC Championship for the ninth straight season. The Mavericks went 12-5-4 in 2021 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history. Mercy also earned a share of the ECC Regular Season Championship for the first time since 2017 and made the ECC Championship Final for the first time since 2017. The Mavericks received votes in the preseason poll after ending the 2021 season receiving votes in the final United Soccer Coaches Poll.

Leading the returners for 2021 ECC Coach of the Year Danny Leon Jr. is Sydney Cooper who was named ECC Defensive Player of the Year, D2CCA and United Soccer Coaches All-Region and First Team All-ECC after playing a team-high 1,902 minutes in 2021. Mercy also returns their top scorer from last year in Claudia McKail who had a team-high six goals and 14 points. First Team All-ECC and All-Region selection Nikki Bermudez also returns after recording 13 points on five goals and three assists.

The Mavericks open their 2022 season on Friday, August 26th when they face Southern New Hampshire at Southern Connecticut State at 2 p.m.