The 2015 women’s college soccer season is just around the corner. Below is what to keep an eye on in the MAAC, NEC and MAC.

Monmouth's Rachelle Ross

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

2014 Conference Awards

Conference Tournament Champion: Rider
Coach of the Year: Krissy Turner, Monmouth
Offensive Player of the Year: Tara Ballay, Rider
Defensive Player of the Year: Alexa Freguletti, Monmouth
Goalkeeper of the Year: Taylor Booth, Siena College
Rookie of the Year: Rachelle Ross, Monmouth

Teams (2014 overall, conference record)
Monmouth (14-5, 9-1)
Fairfield (14-4-3, 8-2)
Niagara (11-2-6, 6-1-3)
Rider (12-6-3, 5-3-2)
Siena College (7-7-6, 4-2-4)
Canisius (6-14, 5-5)
Manhattan (8-8-2, 3-5-2)
Iona College(w) (6-10-3, 2-5-3)
Quinnipiac (3-13-1, 2-7-1)
Marist (2-12-4, 1-6-3)
Saint Peter's (1-18, 1-9)

It was another quality league campaign for Monmouth last fall, although the season ended in disappointment during a loss to eventual champions Rider in the semifinals prevented an NCAA tournament bid. That’ll be the focus for a team bringing back players like Rachelle Ross (the league’s Rookie of the Year), forward Alexis McTamney, defender Monique Goncalves and midfielder Brianne Boyle. 

Second place finishers Fairfield returns leading scorer Cassidy Boegel, but it was more about the team’s stingy defense that engineered its success, conceding just 18 goals in 21 games. Senior defender Karolyn Collins is among the returners at the back, and she showed the ability to create chances with seven assists in 2014.

It was a tremendous turnaround for Niagara in the 2014 season. One year after posting a 4-13-2 overall mark, the Purple Eagles strung together eight unbeaten games in a row, including the heartbreaking MAAC tournament semifinal loss on penalty kicks against Fairfield. All Conference performers Haillie Price and Amelia Gulley are back to lead the team. 

Reigning Conference Player of the Year Tara Ballay captains Rider this fall, as she missed five games with a broken leg yet still earned the honors. Ballay’s 11 goals from 16 games were by far the most on the team last season and if the likes of Michelle Iacono or Ellie Smith can assume more of that burden, it bodes well for the team’s chances.

The rest of the pack has its work cut out if it hopes to close ground on last year’s top four. Of the 30 players to earn first or second team conference honors, just six of them came from teams outside the leading quartet. Siena College lost MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year Taylor Booth, a big gap to fill. Canisius appointed Todd Clark as its new head coach as it seeks to make up ground on the leaders. Manhattan brings back its pair of All-Rookie performers in Nicole Aylmer and Emily Center.

Mid-American Conference

2014 Conference Awards
Conference Tournament Champion: Buffalo
Freshman of the Year: Laura Dougall, Freshman, Buffalo
Offensive Player of the Year: Katie Roberts, Senior, Buffalo
Defensive Players of the Year: Jackie Hall, Buffalo
Coach of the Year: Shawn Burke, Buffalo

Teams (2014 overall, conference record)

East
Buffalo (16-3-3, 9-0-2)
Miami (OH) (14-3-2, 8-2-1)
Kent State (10-7-3, 5-4-2)
Bowling Green (4-13-1, 3-7-1)
Ohio University (6-13, 3-8)
Akron (6-12-1, 2-9)

West
Eastern Michigan (11-7-1, 7-4)
Ball State (11-7-2, 6-5)
Western Michigan (13-8-1, 5-5-1)
Northern Illinois (6-11-4, 4-4-3)
Toledo (7-11-2, 4-6-1)
Central Michigan (6-11-2, 4-6-1)

Last season featured an interesting divide between the 12 teams that compromise the Mid-American Conference. Six teams won more than they lost, while the five remaining sides went the other way, finishing under .500 for the season.

Buffalo's Laura Dougall

No team obviously put together a more notable performance than conference tournament winners Buffalo, who also swept the individual postseason awards. There’s a lot to like about them again in 2015, with goalkeeper Laura Dougall back in goal after winning Freshman of the Year, and Redshirt Senior Jackie Hall leads the team at the back. Replacing the offensive production of graduated senior Katie Roberts is one of the keys to the upcoming campaign.

Perennial MAC power Miami (OH) is one of the contenders to unseat Buffalo. Despite losing stalwart offensive fulcrum Kelsey Dinges, the RedHawks return nine starters overall, including senior midfielder Haley Walter and rising sophomores Maggie Scott and Kat Zalar.

Eastern Michigan, Ball State and Central Michigan stayed in the mix for long portions of the campaign last year, coming up short in the end. All three lost a significant amount of talent, perhaps none more than Eastern Michigan, as three All-MAC First Teamers graduated. Western Michigan brings back defender Lindsey Lee and midfielder Kylie Nylen, who will both be senior leaders. WMU’s non-conference schedule includes four difficult non-conference games against Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Depaul, Illinois State.

Northeast Conference

2014 Conference Awards
Conference Tournament Champion: Central Connecticut
Player of the Year: Tori Sousa, Central Connecticut
Defensive Player of the Year: Jennifer Cafferky, Central Connecticut
Goalkeeper of the Year: Nicki Turley, Central Connecticut
Rookie of the Year: Jennifer Cafferky, Central Connecticut
Coach of the Year: Mike Minielli, Wagner

Teams (2014 overall, conference record)
Fairleigh Dickinson (14-5-1, 6-1-1)
Wagner (9-7-3, 5-1-2)
Central Connecticut (11-5-4, 4-2-2)
Saint Francis (PA)(w) (3-12-5, 3-2-3)
Sacred Heart (8-9-2, 3-4-1)
Robert Morris (4-11-4, 2-3-3)
Bryant (4-13-2, 2-4-2)
LIU Brooklyn(w) (4-14-1, 2-5-1)
Mount St. Mary's (2-16-1, 1-6-1) 

While Central Connecticut stormed through the postseason and into the NCAA tournament, Fairleigh Dickinson was the darling of the regular season, topping the table and navigating its way to the title game. Just one senior sat on last year’s roster, meaning this year’s squad could be poised for a repeat, and then some. Forward Rachel Hoekstra and midfielder Amanda Goulet are two of the key returnees.

It should be a great race in the NEC if Central Connecticut can replicate its form from a year ago. The loss of Tori Sousa, the Player of the Year, is no doubt a blow, but the formidable spine of goalkeeper Nicki Turley and sophomore defender Jennifer Cafferky is definitely a boost.

Wagner could jump into the race if it can get more help offensively. With 18 goals for and 20 against in the 2014 season, the results were mixed, although they managed to pick up the conference results when it counted most. German midfielder Johanna Konrad and defender Tori Rodriguez are going to need and deliver to thrust them into the running. 

Defensive improvement is paramount if St. Francis (PA) is to return to the summit of the NEC, as they conceded 37 goals a year ago. All of its wins came in conference play, vaulting it into fourth place despite some struggles during its out of conference slate. Young talent like Gabi Morales and Allison LaDuke are coming off strong 2014 campaigns and could be a part of a building season.

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

ECNL Girls N. Atlantic Players to Watch

Women's NCAA Tournament Round Two Preview

Best of Men's College Soccer Week 13