Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University women's soccer team was selected to finish sixth in the Northeast Conference (NEC) standings for the 2017 season, according to a poll conducted by the league's head coaches.
Keystone State foe Saint Francis U was picked to win the NEC, grabbing seven of a possible eight first-place votes. Central Connecticut and Fairleigh Dickinson were selected to finish second and third, respectively, each collecting a first-place mark. Sacred Heart and Bryant were slotted ahead of Robert Morris, followed by seventh-place Wagner, eighth-place LIU Brooklyn, and ninth-place Mount St. Mary's to round out the poll.
RELEASE: 2017 Northeast Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
Robert Morris finished sixth in the league last season with a 4-4 record, narrowly missing a second consecutive NEC Tournament after being eliminated on the final day of the regular season. The Colonials return their top five scorers, including senior Kasia Bak and junior Jane Schleicher. Bak paced the team in 2016 with four assists and eight points, while the West Virginia Wesleyan transfer tallied a team-high three goals.
Senior defender Kayla Kelley also returns to RMU for her final season in Moon Township. Kelley, who is 12th all-time in minutes played at 4,596, is the program's only three-time All-NEC selection, garnering First Team and Rookie Team honors in 2014 and Second Team accolades in 2015.
Robert Morris opens the season on the road Friday, Aug. 18 at 4:00 p.m. against Ohio. The Colonials open the home slate of their schedule on Sunday, Aug. 20 at noon when Milwaukee comes to the North Athletic Complex.
