NORTH BOSTON, N.Y. – La Roche women's soccer was selected seventh in the 2024 AMCC Preseason Poll, released by the conference on Wednesday.

The Redhawks finished last season with a 6-8-3 overall record and a 4-3-2 mark in AMCC playing, earning them the #5 seed in the AMCC Women's Soccer Tournament.

La Roche returns all five Third Team All-AMCC honorees, including Alexandra Mecchia, Alexis Nudds and Olexia Johnson, who all elected to use their extra year of eligibility, as well as junior goalkeeper Julianna Hornikel and sophomore Kiki Nemcek.

The Redhawks return 90% of their offensive production from 2023, as 26 of the 29 goals scored will take the field in 2024. Only Victoria Biagetti, who scored three goals, isn't returning after graduation.

Defensively, La Roche allowed 38 goals on the season and ended the year with eight clean sheets. As previously noted, Hornikel is back in net for the red and black and her defensive line remains intact, as all members from the back line return.

Penn State Behrend earned the top spot in the poll, followed by defending conference champion, Pitt-Greensburg. Mount Aloysius, Hilbert and Penn State Altoona round out the top five.

Alfred State's sixth-place prediction concludes the list ahead of the Redhawks, then rounding out the order in eighth and ninth are Carlow and Pitt-Bradford.

La Roche's regular season kicks off on Friday, Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. as the Redhawks meet Thiel on the road. The 2024 home opener is slated for Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. when the red and black welcomes Waynesburg.