NAC Release

WATERVILLE--The Maine Maritime Academy women's soccer team received 28 points, including one first-place vote, to earn the third spot in the East Division of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) coaches' preseason poll that was announced on Tuesday.

In voting by the NAC's six head coaches in the division, Lesley University (with 33 points and three first-place votes) held a slim advantage over Husson (29, 2) and Maine Maritime. In the NAC West, Vermont State Johnson (15, 3) is a slim favorite over SUNY Delhi (13, 1).

The Mariners, who fashioned a 14-5-1 overall record and 6-2 conference mark a season ago, have nine starters back among 22 returners this fall. Head coach Bill Ashby begins a second stint at the Academy after founding the women's program in 1997 (he also coached the MMA men's soccer team) and he inherits an experienced group led by four 2023 all-conference standouts.
          
Senior four-year starting defender Hazel Stoddard was named All-NAC First Team and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District and has 13 career points under her belt.

Classmate Kirra Magaña is a versatile defender and forward who pumped in 14 goals and five assists for 33 total points en route to All-NAC Second Team honors. The four-year starter also was a CSC Academic All-District selection and she has racked up 21+5=47 scoring totals during her career.

Sophomore Isa Thesing, who can also play on the backline, made the 2023 All-NAC Second Team and CSC Academic All-District after posting 94 saves, an .855 save percentage to pace the NAC) and.841 goals-against average for third in the conference.

Sophomore midfielder Bella Scolaro is All-NAC Third Team after scoring 5g-1a-11p with two game-winning goals and she was the team's best scoring midfielder.

Classmate Sophia Hernandez had four goals and 13 points as the team's second-leading scorer last fall.

The Mariners' season opener will be on the road at Southern Maine on Friday (6 p.m.) before hosting the University of New England in their home opener on 1 p.m. Sunday at Ritchie Field.