COLONIA, N.J. (Aug. 22, 2024) – The Mercy University women's soccer team has been picked to finish third in the East Coast Conference (ECC) Preseason Coaches' Poll and senior Skyler Schwenkler (San Diego, Calif./Grossmont) has been named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The top six teams in the standings at the end of the season qualify for the ECC Championship.

Daemen received two first-place votes to take the top spot in the poll with 56 points. Molloy earned four first-place votes and 52 points overall to be ranked second in the poll. The Mavericks received one first-place vote and 48 points overall. Daemen's Kylie Miranto was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

Schwenkler is named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year for the first time after being named D2CCA Second Team All-Region and First Team All-ECC last season. The senior started all 17 games and ended the season with three assists in 1,444 minutes played.

The Mavericks went 9-5-3 last season, advancing to the Semifinals of the ECC Championship. Mercy has won three ECC Championships in the last nine years (2014, 2017, 2022) and has qualified for the ECC Championship in each of the last 10 seasons. Leading the returners for Head Coach Jack Nicholson is junior Ancksu Dixon who was named United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-Region and First Team All-ECC after recording a team-high 13 points and five goals. Junior Maleah Tarin also returns after being named Second Team All-ECC in 2023 following a season in which she had four goals and nine points. Senior Amiah Washington returns after netting a team-high-tying five goals last season. Senior Isabella Messina returns after starting all 17 games a year ago and playing 1,372 minutes.

Nicholson and the Mavericks open their 2024 season on Friday, September 6th when they face Franklin Pierce at Queens College at 6 p.m.