This morning, the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference released its 2017 women's soccer preseason poll. La Roche is expected to place fifth in the AMCC and clinch their nineteenth playoff spot in twenty seasons. Penn State Behrend is picked to repeat as the conference champion while Behrend's Olivia Belack and Rachel Weyand are the Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.
Last season, the Redhawks placed sixth in the AMCC Regular Season standings and advanced to the Tournament Quarterfinals. They boasted one of the AMCC's strongest offenses ranking third in both goals and points.
La Roche returns nine starters from last year's squad including 80% of their scoring. Senior striker Vanessa Ceravolo and junior goalkeeper Jessica Welka are Preseason Players to Watch.
Ceravolo is a three-time All-Conference performer and the 2014 AMCC Newcomer of the Year. She was twice named AMCC Player of the Week in 2016 and tied for fourth in the AMCC in points. Ceravolo ranked third in the AMCC in goals while scoring three game-winning goals and registering five multi-goal games.
Welka started 16 games in 2016. She won six games while recording 67 saves and a 2.28 goals against average.
The Redhawks open the 2017 schedule on September 2 and will host Geneva. La Roche will travel to D'Youville for their conference opener on September 23 and play defending AMCC Champion Penn State Behrend in Erie on October 21.