PITMAN, NJ - After advancing to the third round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament en route to a 15-1-2 overall record, The College of New Jersey has been selected as the 2019 preseason women's soccer favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Lions will be seeking their 19th NJAC championship since the inception of women's soccer as an NJAC championship sport back in 1994.  

The 2018 Lions posted their third consecutive undefeated NJAC regular season (7-0-1) before capturing the conference crown for the second straight year with NJAC Tournament shutout victories over Montclair State and Rowan. In NCAA Tournament play, TCNJ produced shutout wins over Western Connecticut and Farmingdale State, before playing eventual NCAA Division III National Champion Williams to a scoreless draw and falling 4-3 in penalty kicks.  
TCNJ, which garnered all 10 of the first-place votes cast by the league's head coaches, will be led by the longest-tenured NJAC women's soccer coach in 30th-year leader Joe Russo. Under his guidance the Lions have produced an overall record of 518-64-43. TCNJ returns a league-high six all-conference performers from its 2018 NJAC Championship squad, including senior midfielder Taylor Nolan, junior back Faith Eichenour, sophomore forward Nikki Butler, senior back Ally DeRiggi, senior back Jen McGrogan, and senior goalkeeper Nicole DiPasquale. 

Rowan University, which earned runner-up finishes in both the NJAC regular season and the conference tournament en route to a 13-4-2 overall record, was selected to again place second. The 2018 Profs earned their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance with an at-large berth after advancing to the NJAC Championship match and falling 1-0 to TCNJ in the 108th minute of the second overtime. Under the leadership of 21st-year head coach Scott Leacott, the Profs have produced an overall record of 278-81-31. Rowan returns a trio of all-conference players from its 2018 NJAC runner-up squad, including sophomore midfielder Bethany Sansone, senior back Casey Lubonski, and the 2018 NJAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year in senior forward Daria Jones. 

Montclair State University, which advanced to the semifinals of the 2018 NJAC Tournament en route to a 10-4-5 overall record, was selected to place third. The 2018 Red Hawks earned a fifth-place NJAC regular season finish, but they posted a first round road NJAC Tournament win before falling to eventual league champion TCNJ. Tenth-year head coach Patrick Naughter has guided MSU to an overall record of 125-35-26 during this tenure in Montclair. The Red Hawks return four NJAC all-conference players from their 2018 squad, including senior forward Emily Beenders, junior midfielder Catherine Carnevale, sophomore midfielder Emily DeGeyter, and senior back Maddy McLelland.

Stockton University, which posted a third-place finish in the 2018 NJAC regular season race with a 6-2-1 league mark, was selected to finish fourth. Now in his 17th-year at the helm of the Stockton program, Nick Juengert has guided the Ospreys to a mark of 224-102-40, including a record of 13-4-4 overall in 2018. Stockton returns four all-conference players from its 2018 squad, including junior back Dasey DiElmo, junior forward Salena LeDonne, senior midfielder Michelle Sander, and junior back Kiersten Reszkowski.  

Rutgers University-Camden, which posted a fourth-place regular season finish in 2018 with a 5-2-2 mark in league play, was selected to finish fifth. Led by the 2018 NJAC Coach of the Year in Steve Weaver, the Scarlet Raptors posted their best conference finish since 2003 before earning an ECAC Tournament berth and finishing 8-9-2 overall. Weaver has led Rutgers-Camden to 15 victories during his first two seasons at the helm of the program. The Scarlet Raptors return five all-conference players from their 2018 ECAC Tournament squad, including junior forward Meghan Wachira, sophomore forward Ava Pizzaro, junior goalkeeper Natalie Eberhardt, sophomore back Sophia Spadano, and the 2018 NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore back Breana Winder. 

The coaches' dark horse selection, Kean University was selected to place sixth. The 2018 Cougars finished 5-8-6 overall but advanced to the semifinals of the NJAC Tournament with a 1-0 first round road win at third-seeded Stockton. Under the direction of 21st-year head coach Brian Doherty, the Cougars have posted an overall mark of 187-152-47. Kean returns a trio of all-conference performers from the 2018 season, including senior midfielder Carley Garlasco, senior back Deana Abdou, and sophomore goalkeeper Mary Bystrycki.  

William Paterson University, which finished 7-10-0 overall in 2018, was selected to place seventh.  Led by 23rd-year head coach Keith Woods, the Pioneers have produced a mark of 212-162-38 under his leadership. William Paterson returns four all-conference players from the 2018 season, including senior midfielder Kristen Bowe, senior midfielder Lorraine Moffitt, senior back Ashley Cozzi, and the reigning 2018 NJAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year in senior forward Marisa Adelman.  

Rutgers University-Newark, led by fifth-year head coach Ariana Ruela, was picked to finish eighth. Ruela has led the Scarlet Raiders to 32 wins during her tenure in Newark, including an overall record of 7-8-3 in 2018. The Scarlet Raiders return four all-league performers from the 2018 season, including senior forward Shayna Bohus, senior forward Samantha Richter, junior midfielder Ana Silviera, and senior back Iné Collins.

Ramapo College, which finished 3-13-0 overall in 2018, was selected to place ninth. Eighth-year head coach Abby Shiffler has guided the Roadrunners to 39 match victories during her tenure in Mahwah. 
New Jersey City University, under the leadership of fourth-year head coach Anthony Tuesta, was selected to place 10th. Tuesta has guided the Gothic Knights to 17 match victories in his three seasons, including an overall record of 5-10-0 in 2017. NJCU returns one all-conference player from its 2018 squad in senior midfielder Mallensey Vargas. 

The 26th season of NJAC women's soccer will kick off on Friday, August 30 with eight league teams in non-conference action. The first conference matches will take place just 24 days later on Saturday, September 21.

The top six regular season finishers will advance to the NJAC Championship Tournament which will begin with first round action on Saturday, November 2. The NJAC Tournament semifinals will be conducted on Tuesday, November 5, and the league championship match will be played at the site of the highest remaining seed on Friday, November 8. The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference'sautomatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament. 

2019 NJAC Coaches Preseason Women's Soccer Poll
(first place votes in parenthesis)
1. The College of New Jersey (10)
2. Rowan University 
3. Montclair State University 
4. Stockton University
5. Rutgers-Camden
6. Kean University (dark horse)
7. William Paterson University
8. Rutgers-Newark
9. Ramapo College
10. New Jersey City University