KUTZTOWN, PA (August 19, 2010) – The Kutztown University women's soccer team has been picked to finish fourth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) preseason women's soccer poll released this afternoon. The Golden Bears, coming off of their best season in program history, also received one first place vote.
Kutztown finished the 2009 season with a 15-6-1 record and ranked 25th in the final National Soccer Coaches' Association of America Top 25 poll. The Golden Bears appeared in nine of the 11 weekly polls, peaking at No. 9 on Sept. 15. Kutztown returns seven starters from a team that set school records in victories (15) and shutouts (13). Kutztown participated in the 2009 NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional tournament.
“It's always nice to be picked near the top of the pre-season poll, especially in a quality conference like the PSAC,” Kutztown women's soccer coach Erik Burstein said. “This will certainly give our girls a little lift as we enter the season, but we are all focused on the job at hand and will not let this go to our heads. As for the first place vote, sure, it is nice, but we have a lot of work to do.”
The Golden Bears enter the season ranked 22nd in the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America (NSCAA) preseason top 25. Three all-conference players return to lead Kutztown this season. Senior Cheslea Deeter, junior Shannon Pennock (Mansfield, N.J./Northern Burlington) were Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division first team selections while sophomore Kelly Rozembersky (Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury) was a second team honoree.
Deeter, a women's soccer national player of the year candidate, and Rozembersky anchored a defense that allowed 17 goals in 2009. A two-time first team all-PSAC selection, Deeter was named to the first team Atlantic Region squads of the Daktronics and NSCAA postseason teams. She's one of the best defenders in the PSAC.
West Chester, which received nine first place votes, was picked to win the PSAC as the conference returns to a single division format this year. The Golden Rams were followed by California, who received five first place votes and Indiana.
Kutztown was picked ahead of Gannon, who was fifth. Mercyhurst and Slippery Rock were tied for sixth while Bloomsburg and East Stroudsburg were tied for eighth. Rounding out spots 10-15 were Edinboro, Shippensburg, Millersville, Lock Haven, Mansfield and Clarion.
PSAC PRESEASON POLL (first place votes in parenthesis)
1. West Chester (9)
2. California (5)
3. IUP
4. KUTZTOWN (1)
5. Gannon
T6. Mercyhurst
T6. Slippery Rock
T8. Bloomsburg
T8. East Stroudsburg
10. Edinboro
11. Shippensburg
12. Millersville
13. Lock Haven
14. Mansfield
15. Clarion
