With eight of nine first place votes cast by the league’s head coaches, The College of New Jersey has been selected as the preseason women’s soccer favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Lions, who have captured the past five league championships, posted an 18-5-0 overall record in 2003 while advancing to the NCAA Tournament National semifinals.

Under the direction of 15th-year head coach Joe Russo, TCNJ has posted an overall record of 257-26-17. In the history of the NJAC women’s soccer championship dating back to its inception in 1994, TCNJ has captured 9-of-the-10 titles. The Lions return five all-conference players including the 2003 NJAC Defensive Player of the Year in senior back Erin Pivovarnick. TCNJ also returns three senior all-conference midfielders in Lauren DiStefano, Katie Egan and Lynda Schuster. In addition, the Lions return the 2002 Rookie of the Year and a 2003 all-conference forward in sophomore Brittny Boyd.

Montclair State University, the 2003 NJAC regular season champion, finished second in the poll and received the only other first place vote among the nine ballots cast. The Red Hawks finished 14-5-2 overall in 2003 while advancing to the ECAC Metro NY/NJ Championship Match. Montclair returns three all-conference players including the 2003 NJAC Offensive Player of the Year in senior midfielder Stephanie Sabaliauskas. The Red Hawks also return a pair of all-conference senior backs in Shirah Odeh and Gabby White.

Richard Stockton College placed third in the poll. The Ospreys finished 15-4-2 overall in 2003 and captured the ECAC Metro NY/NJ Tournament championship with a 1-1 draw against NJAC-rival Montclair State in the title match (Stockton won championship on penalty kicks, 4-2). The Ospreys return five all-conference players in junior forward Kari Devine, senior midfielder Megan Norcia, junior goalkeeper Becky Baisley, sophomore midfielder Rachel Friel and senior back Jaime Hibbs.

Rounding out the remainder of the selections in the poll were Rowan University selected to finish fourth; Rutgers University-Camden selected to finish fifth; the coaches’ dark horse pick Kean University selected for sixth place; William Paterson University picked to finish seventh; Ramapo College picked to finish eighth; and Rutgers University-Newark selected to finish ninth.

The top six regular season finishers will advance to the 2004 NJAC Championship Tournament. The first and second-seeded teams will receive first round tournament byes.

The first round of the 2004 NJAC Tournament will kickoff on October 30. The tournament semifinals will take place on November 3, and the 2004 NJAC champion will be crowned at the conference championship match on November 6. All tournament matches will be held at the site of the highest seed. The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.