The Falcons received 64 points and first-place votes from all eight opposing coaches
2018 Schedule
ANNVILLE, Pa. (Women’s Soccer) – The Messiah Falcons were selected as the favorite in the 2018 conference preseason poll conducted among the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth (MAC Commonwealth) women’s soccer coaches. The Falcons collected all eight first-place votes from opposing coaches for a total of 64 points.
Arcadia collected 57 points to be positioned second, and Lebanon Valley received 46 points for third. Widener picked up 39 points and Stevenson earned 37 points to round out the top-5 in the preseason poll.
The rest of the poll in respective order includes Albright (36 points), Alvernia (19 points), Hood (14 points) and Lycoming 12 (points).
Arcadia defeated Messiah, 1-0, in double overtime in the 2017 MAC Commonwealth Championship Match. It was the Knights first conference title in women’s soccer. Arcadia went 1-1 at the NCAA Championship, opening with a 3-1 win over Franklin. The Knights fell to Carnegie Mellon, 1-0, in overtime in round two.
Messiah advanced to the sectional final where it tied TCNJ, 1-1, but fell 4-1 in penalty kicks. The Falcons defeated Westfield State, Scranton and MIT on their way to the sectional final.
Joining Arcadia (2) and Messiah (1) at the 2017 conference championship were Widener (3), Albright (4) and Lebanon Valley (5).
Albright, Lebanon Valley and Widener all earned berths to the 2017 ECAC Division III Championship after the conference championship. The Dutchmen and the Pride fell in the first round. The Lions advanced to the semifinal where it lost to Springfield.
Messiah was ranked No. 5 in the United Soccer Coaches Division III Preseason Poll.
The 2018 MAC Commonwealth Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Preseason Poll and 2017 final standings can be viewed below.
| 2018 MAC Commonwealth Women's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll |
| Rank |
Team |
Points |
(1st Place Votes) |
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|
| 1 |
Messiah |
64 |
(8) |
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| 2 |
Arcadia |
57 |
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| 3 |
Lebanon Valley |
46 |
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| 4 |
Widener |
39 |
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| 5 |
Stevenson |
37 |
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| 6 |
Albright |
36 |
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| 7 |
Alvernia |
19 |
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| 8 |
Hood |
14 |
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| 9 |
Lycoming |
12 |
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| 2017 MAC Commonwealth Women's Soccer Final Standings |
|
|
| Finish |
Team |
Conf. |
Overall |
|
|
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| 1 |
Messiah |
7-0-1 (22) |
17-2-4 |
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| 2 |
Arcadia |
7-1-0 (21) |
16-6-0 |
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| 3 |
Widener |
5-3-0 (15) |
12-7-0 |
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| 4 |
Albright |
4-3-1 (13) |
12-9-1 |
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| t5 (5) |
Lebanon Valley |
4-4-0 (12) |
9-7-3 |
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| t5 |
Stevenson |
4-4-0 (12) |
11-7-0 |
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| 7 |
Alvernia |
3-5-0 (9) |
6-10-1 |
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| 8 |
Lycoming |
1-7-0 (3) |
5-12-1 |
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| 9 |
Hood |
0-8-0 (0) |
8-10-1 |
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