The College of New Jersey has been selected as the favorite to win the 2005 New Jersey Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Championship in a preseason poll of the league’s ten head coaches. The 2004 NJAC Regular Season Champions will be seeking their 10th conference crown since the inception of women's soccer as an NJAC sport back in 1994.

The Lions finished the 2004 season with an 18-2-2 overall record and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. TCNJ, which played third-seeded Montclair State to a draw in the NJAC Tournament Championship Match before falling in penalty kicks, received nine-of-the-ten first place votes cast by the coaches. Under the direction of 16th-year head coach Joe Russo, the Lions have posted an overall record of 275-28-19.  

TCNJ returns three of the premier players in the conference including the reigning NJAC Female Athlete of the Year in senior forward Brittny Boyd. The Lions also return the 2004 NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore midfielder Dana DiBruno and the league's first-team all-conference goalkeeper in senior Alissa Kacar. 

Rowan University finished second in the poll and received the only other first place vote. The Profs posted an 11-5-2 record in 2004 and advanced to the NJAC Tournament semifinals. Under the direction of seventh-year head coach Scott Leacott, Rowan has posted an overall record of 73-30-10. The Profs return four all-conference players in sophomore midfielder Kerry Little, junior back Samantha Rodriguez, senior midfielder Amy Whitcraft and sophomore back Trish Egler.

Richard Stockton College, which finished the 2004 season with a 14-6-2 overall record en route to capturing the ECAC Metro NY/NJ Tournament Championship, placed third in the poll. Under the guidance of third-year head coach Nick Juengert, the Ospreys have accumulated an overall record of 29-10-4. Stockton returns the reigning NJAC Offensive Player of the Year in senior forward Kari Devine. In addition, the Ospreys return three other all-conference players in senior forward Stacy Chabot, sophomore midfielder Val Davison and junior back Rachel Friel.  

Defending NJAC Champion Montclair State University placed fourth in the poll. The Red Hawks finished the 2004 campaign with an 11-7-4 overall record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after capturing their first NJAC Championship as the tournament's third-seed. Under the direction of eighth-year head coach Eileen Blair, the Red Hawks have posted an 87-45-15 overall record. Montclair returns three all-conference players in senior forward Jess Amendola, senior midfielder Kelly Dutko, and junior back Justine Barbato.

The coaches' dark horse selection, Kean University, was selected to finish fifth. Under the leadership of seventh-year head coach Brian Doherty, the Cougars finished the 2004 campaign with a 9-7-2 overall record. Kean returns a conference-high five all-conference players in junior forward Heather Anzivino, sophomore forward Michelle Fischer, junior forward Allison Fream, junior midfielder Brienne Campbell, senior midfielder Alycia Hoffman.

William Paterson University, under the direction of ninth-year head coach Keith Woods, was selected to place sixth. During Woods' tenure, the Pioneers have posted a 97-44-10 overall record. Paterson returns four all-conference players in junior midfielder Lea Mullady, sophomore back Amanda Fabiano, junior forward Melissa Boka and senior midfielder Denise Spina. 

Rutgers University-Camden, which is led by first-year head coach Tom Greenawalt, was tapped to place seventh. The Scarlet Raptors return junior back Katie O'Connor from a squad which finished 12-6-2 overall in 2004.

Under the direction of third-year head coach Erik Burstein, Rutgers University-Newark was selected to place eighth. The Scarlet Raiders return three all-conference players in sophomore goalkeeper Katie Hastings, sophomore midfielder Jen Sanker and sophomore back Alex Marcus from a squad which finished the 2004 season with a 10-7-1 overall mark.

Ramapo College, under the leadership of seventh-year head coach Arnold Ramirez, was tapped for ninth place. The Roadrunners return four all-conference players in sophomore forward Lindsay Kotula, sophomore midfielder Jessica Giordano, and pair of junior backs in Miranda Taylor and Samantha Traschetti.

With its return to the New Jersey Athletic Conference as a full-member in the 2005 season, New Jersey City University was selected to place 10th. The Gothic Knights are led by first-year head coach Kristin Spohn. 

NJAC league play will get underway on Wednesday, September 14 when NJCU hosts Richard Stockton in the first conference match of the season.

The top six regular season finishers will advance to the 2005 NJAC Championship Tournament, with all matches played at the sight of the highest seed. The NJAC Tournament first round will take place on Saturday, October 29 with the first and second-seeded team receiving byes. The league semifinals will be held on Tuesday, November 1, and the 2005 NJAC Championship Match will take place on Friday, November 4. 

The NJAC Tournament Champion receives the conference's automatic qualification to the NCAA National Championship Tournament.