Lock Haven, Pa. – Slippery Rock women's soccer was picked to finish atop the PSAC standings, according to the conference's preseason poll conducted by the league's head coaches.  Head Coach Rachel Gironda's Lady Cats have been picked to finish 17th in the program's second year in the conference... (Full PSAC Release)
 
The Rock earned 11 first-place votes and enters the 2014 season after winning the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional title a year ago with a 3-0 win over California. Slippery Rock made the program's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Quarterfinals last season and is ranked seventh on the National Soccer Coaches Association of American and Continental Tire NCAA Division II national preseason poll. The Rock finished 2013 with a 15-4-2 overall record, marking the 18th straight winning season for the program. Andrea Felix will lead The Rock's offensive charge, as she finished her freshman campaign ranked third in the PSAC with 1.39 points per game thanks to 10 goals and five assists.
 
California, the PSAC defending champion, is ranked second with four first-place nods. The Vulcans have not been picked lower than third on the preseason poll since 2009 – when women's soccer competed in two divisions. California has captured the league title twice in the last three seasons and returns its top four goal scorers from 2013, including Erin Hogan, who led Division II with a single-season school record 17 assists.
 
Last season's preseason poll favorite West Chester was given one first-place vote and is ranked third. The Golden Rams played for the PSAC title in 2013 and earned a NCAA D-II postseason first round appearance. West Chester has posted back-to-back 10-win seasons, as the Rams finished 2013 with a 10-6 record and went 10-3-1 in 2012.
 
Kutztown ranks fourth on the poll after earning a PSAC Championship playoff berth in 2013 for the sixth straight year. The Golden Bears captured their program's first-ever NCAA postseason victory last year with a 2-0 win over West Chester in the opening round of the tournament.
 
Edinboro holds the No. 5 slot, while Gannon claimed the No. 6 position and Shippensburg is ranked seventh. The Raiders' No. 7 ranking is the highest for the program since being ranked third in the Eastern Division in 2009. East Stroudsburg came-in eighth, while IUP is ranked ninth. Millersville finished in 10th, while Bloomsburg is ranked 11th. Rounding out the poll is No. 12 Mercyhurst, No. 13 Lock Haven, No. 14 Seton Hill, No. 15 Mansfield, No. 16 Clarion, and No. 17 Pitt-Johnstown. Clarion received the final first-place vote.
 
Listed below is the preseason PSAC women's soccer coaches' poll. First-place votes are in parenthesis.
 
1. Slippery Rock (11)
2. California (4)
3. West Chester (1)
4. Kutztown
5. Edinboro
6. Gannon
7. Shippensburg
8. East Stroudsburg
9. IUP
10. Millersville
11. Bloomsburg
12. Mercyhurst
13. Lock Haven
14. Seton Hill
15. Mansfield
16. Clarion (1)
17. Pitt-Johnstown