Westwood, MASS.-  MIT amassed nine first-place votes, securing the top spot in the 2023 NEWMAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll. Coached by Martin Desmarais, the MIT returners will be highlighted by Co-Defensive Athlete of the Year, Julia Chen. Chen helped lead an MIT defense that allowed one goal in NEWMAC play and 11 overall. Fellow NEWMAC All-Conference honoree Meagan Rowlett will also return after a season in which she led the NEWMAC in goals (10) and ranked second in points (24).

Defending NEWMAC Champions Emerson College landed in the second spot, nabbing two first place votes. Emerson’s coaching staff, led by head coach David Suvak, was named the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Division III Region II Coaching Staff of the Year in 2022. They will look to 2022 NEWMAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Yoshiko Slater to be an impact player. Slater, a first-time Defensive Player of the Year and All-Conference honoree, made a huge impact on the Emerson back line. The sophomore started in all 20 games and headlined a Lions' defense that allowed a mere five goals in conference play. Slater will be joined by fellow first team All-Conference honorees, Brittney Righetti and Ana Swisher. Righetti notched seven goals last season, while Swisher was integral to the Lions defense.
 
Babson, coached by Nellie Pineault, lands in the third spot. The Beavers will return six starters from the 2022 season. Among the returners is Laura Lukowicz, who was a 2022 USC Region II First Team as well as a 2022 All-NEWMAC first team selection. Lukowicz helped lead a Beaver defense that ranked third in the conference with a team 0.79 goals against average and 10 shutouts.
 
Clark has nabbed the fourth spot and the remaining first place vote after a season in which they reached the NEWMAC Championship match.  They will return 21 players from last season’s squad. Among the returners for Clark is sophomore Jayme Brown, who earned First Team All-NEWMAC honors. Brown started in all 20 games last season and was an anchor in the Cougars backline.
 
Coming in at the five-spot is Springfield College, The Pride is coached by Kristen Cannon, and will return nine starters from a year ago. Headlining the returners is Kaitlyn Suller, the 2022 NEWMAC Rookie of the Year. The first-year tallied four goals and five assists on the season in her rookie campaign.
 
In the six slot is Wheaton College. Coached by Lee Moyce and Chloe Raco, the Lyons will see six starters return from 2022, including Gaby Diaz. The midfielder tallied three points on a goal and an assist for the Lyons, earning second team All-Conference honors.
 
WPI, coached by Steph Riley-Schafer and Melissa Hart, enters the poll in the seventh spot. The Engineers have five returning starters, led by Allison Escott, who helped shore up the WPI defense.
 
Coast Guard finds themselves in the eighth spot after making a NEWMAC playoff appearance in 2022. The Bears will see All-NEWMAC performer Karagan Bulger return after starting all 18 games in 2022, scoring six goals and having one assist for 13 points on the year. 
 
Smith fills out the nine spot. The Pioneers will be led by second year head coach Kathy Brawn, and will see six starters return including their goalkeeper and top-five goal scorers. Goalkeeper Noemi Howland posted a 0.852 goals against average a season ago.
 
Wellesley rounds out the top 10. Coached by Caitlin Pickul, the Blue bring back 11 starters from the 2022 season.
 
NEWMAC newcomer Salve Regina University and Mount Holyoke College finish out the poll in the eleventh and twelfth spots, respectively.  Both squads return several key contributors and will look to vie for NEWMAC supremacy in 2023.

Women’s soccer conference play kicks off on Saturday, September 16.
 
The NEWMAC Championship will start with quarterfinals on October 31, followed by semifinals on November 2. The Champion will be crowned on Saturday, November 4.
 
2023 NEWMAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll

1. MIT (9) 
2. Emerson (2) 
3. Babson
4. Clark (1) 
5. Springfield
6. Wheaton
7. WPI
8. Coast Guard
9. Smith
10. Wellesley
11. Salve Regina
12. Mount Holyoke

About the NEWMAC

The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with four Associate Members: Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime (Football) and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports.