UB Women's Soccer Picked To Repeat As ECC Champions In Preseason Poll Of League Coaches

Central Islip, N.Y. - The University of Bridgeport women's soccer team, East Coast Conference Champions in 2013, have been picked to repeat by the league's coaches in the 2014 preseason poll.  Junior forward Susanne Vistnes (Randaberg, Norway) from LIU Post takes home the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year award  for the second straight year, while  Ashleigh Berg (Plymouth, Mass.), a senior back from Bridgeport, was voted the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
    
After winning their second ECC title in three years a season ago, Bridgeport received seven of 10 first place votes to finish atop the ECC preseason rankings with 89 points. The Purple Knights, who finished last season with an 18-3-0 overall record, welcome back 10 players to the roster who started at least 10 games during their championship campaign. Bridgeport also beings the season ranked No. 20 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division II Top 25 poll.

LIU Post, with 79 points, narrowly edges Mercy, with 78 points, for the second spot in the poll. Both schools received one first place vote in the rankings, as well. LIU Post made their seventh straight appearance in the ECC Championship last season and finished with a mark of 13-5-0. Mercy put together the best season in program history in 2013, making their first ever appearances in the ECC Championship, the ECC Championship Final, and the NCAA Tournament.

Vistnes is awarded the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year award for the second straight season. In 2013, Vistnes lead the Pioneers and the ECC with 14 goals and 34 points. She also finished tied for fifth in the conference with six assists. Her outstanding season led to her repeat selections as the ECC Offensive Player of the Year and a NSCAA Third Team All-American.

Berg takes home the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honor after being a key cog in a stout Bridgeport back-line in 2013. A Second Team All-Conference and All-Region selection, Berg started 19 games for a Purple Knights squad that allowed only 14 goals and a conference-leading 0.67 goals against average.

2014 ECC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll