Defending Champ UB Checks In At Number One in 2023 CACC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll

Bridgeport, Conn.-The University of Bridgeport women's soccer team, the reigning Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference champions, have been predicted to again finish atop the conference standing this season in a preseason poll of CACC head coaches released on Tuesday, as UB brought home nine of a possible twelve first place votes

The Purple Knights are coming off an outstanding 2022 season in which the UB women posted an impressive 13-3-7 overall record, as the team finished the year on a school-record 19-match unbeaten streak.  Last season, Bridgeport went undefeated at 10-0-2 during its inaugural season of play in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference to take the CACC regular season title; and then followed that up by winning the conference's championship tournament to earn an automatic bid to the 2022 NCAA Division II Championship Tournament, advancing to the East Regional Semifinals.

Head coach Tania Armellino's squad, who recived voted in this season's United Soccer Coaches NCAA Preseason NCAA Division II National Poll, will open the 2023 season with a neutral site match against Southern New Hampshire at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire on Friday, September 1 at 12 noon.  After the season opener against SNHU, Bridgeport will play local rival Southern Connecticut State at Franklin Pierce on Sunday, September 3 also at 12 noon.  The team's home opener is set for Friday, September 8 at 7:30 p.m. against St. Anselm, and the Purple Knights will open conference play on Knights Field on Saturday, September 16 against Thomas Jefferson University.

Take a look at the complete 2023 CACC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll released on Tuesday below:

New Haven, Conn.- Defending champion University of Bridgeport on Tuesday was slotted first in the 2023 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll, as announced by Commissioner Dan Mara. The Purple Knights earned 130 points in the voting and nine of 12 first-place votes, as the league's 12 head coaches conducted the vote.

Thomas Jefferson University, who joined UB as the two CACC institutions to advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament last season, was second in this year's poll with 115 points and two first-place nods. Holy Family University, which played Bridgeport to a draw in the semifinals before the latter advanced via PKs, was third in the 2023 poll with 100 points. Post University (4th place, 89 pts) was the other CACC team to earn a first-place vote in the standings.

The CACC Women's Soccer Regular Season kicks off next Thursday, Aug. 31, as several teams will be in action on that day. The regular season will be a buildup to the CACC Women's Soccer Championship Tournament, which will be held Nov. 5-12, with the quarterfinals on Sunday the 5th, with the semis and final on the 10th and 12th. The semifinals and tournament title match will be held on the Bridgeport campus in Connecticut.

2023 CACC WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL  

1. University of Bridgeport 130 (9)
2. Thomas Jefferson University 115 (2)
3. Holy Family University 100
4. Post University 89 (1)
5. Goldey-Beacom College 84
6. Chestnut Hill College 83
7. Wilmington University 82
8. Dominican University 67
9. Caldwell University 61
10. Georgian Court University 55
11. Felician University 32
12. Bloomfield College 26

  () - First-Place Vote

ABOUT THE CACC

The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference composed of 12 institutions in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The member institutions are Bloomfield College, University of Bridgeport, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican (N.Y.) University, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Post University, Thomas Jefferson University, and Wilmington University.