NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - For the ninth consecutive year, the Dayton women’s soccer team has been chosen as the Atlantic 10 Conference preseason favorite in a vote conducted by the league’s 14 head coaches.

The Flyers earned 179 votes and nine first-place votes to take the top spot in the rankings. Dayton, the reigning 2016 Atlantic 10 Women's Soccer Champions, defeated Saint Joseph’s, 7-0, in the championship final last November at Rhode Island’s Soccer Complex in Kingston, R.I.

Saint Louis ranked second in the predicted order of finish with 172 points and four first-place votes, followed by Saint Joseph’s, who nabbed one top vote, rounding out the top three with 164 points. 

Dayton (9-10-3; 4-4-2 A-10) is a continual force in the league and looks to claim a second straight conference championship, and 11^th overall. Under the leadership of first-year coach Eric Golz, the Flyers return nine starters, including Alexis Kiehl, who was named to the prestigious preseason Hermann Trophy Watch list. Nicolette Greisenger, Sidney Leroy and Kaelyn Johns provide experience for UD, along with A-10 All-Rookie selections Caroline Mink and Micayla Livingston and seven newcomers. Despite finishing seventh in the A-10 last season, Dayton captured a final championship for a retiring head coach Michael Tucker, who led the Flyers for 22 dominant seasons.

Predicted to finish second, the Billikens (14-4-2; 7-1-2 A-10) are coming off of an impressive A-10 regular season, and a second-seed in last year's championship. Returning for SLU are top scorers Lindsay Sands (six goals) and Alyssa Seitzer (five goals) and All-Conference second team selection Maddie Pokorny, and Courtney Reimer, who was named to the A-10 All-Rookie team. The Billikens defense is anchored by senior goalkeeper and All-Conference first team selection Mary Niehaus (0.82 GAA, nine shutouts), who was also selected to the Mid-Atlantic All-Region third team.

The Hawks (18-2-2; 9-0-1 A-10) are coming off a historic season that saw them earn the program's first ever A-10 regular season title and a top seed in the championship, before falling to Dayton in the finale. With the graduation of 2016 Midfielder of the Year, Emily Gingrich, SJU will rely on the scoring prowess of Dakota Mills, who tallied a league-leading 18 goals last season, and Gabrielle Vagnozzi, who added a league-best 11 assists.

The league’s head coaches also voted for an 11-member Preseason All-Conference Team.

The top eight teams will compete in the 2017 Atlantic 10 Women’s Soccer Championship, with a new championship format. The opening rounds will be held on the campus of the higher seeds on Oct. 28 and 29. The top four teams will then advance to play at VCU’s Sports Backers Field in the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 3. The championship finale will be held on Sunday, Nov. 5 with the winner earning the A-10’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

2017 Preseason All-Conference Team

Alexis Kiehl, Dayton, F
Lexi Prillaman, Richmond, F
Dakota Mills, Saint Joseph’s, F
Linnea Faccenda, Duquesne, MF
Sofia Pavon, George Washington, MF
Maddie Pokorny, Saint Louis, MF
Nadia Pestell, Dayton, D
Casey Aunkst, Duquesne, D
Paige McDowell, La Salle, D
Paige Bergman, Saint Joseph’s, D
Miranda Horn, George Washington, GK

2017 Women's Soccer Preseason Poll