Lock Haven, Pa. – The Mercyhurst women’s soccer team was picked to finish second out of eight teams in the Western Division for Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) preseason coaches poll. The Lakers received three of eight first-place votes and were narrowly edged by Slippery Rock for the top spot. Mercyhurst will be competing in the PSAC for the first time during the 2008-09 school year.
Slippery Rock and Mercyhurst were each ranked in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason top 25 poll. The Rock was No. 17 and Mercyhurst was No. 21. West Chester, which was picked to win the Eastern Division, was the third PSAC school to be ranked in the poll, sitting at No. 7.
The Lakers have had come out on top of tight contests against Slippery Rock recently. Although the two teams did not play in 2007, Mercyhurst won a 3-2 overtime contest in 2006 and beat The Rock 2-1 in 2005. Slippery Rock last beat Mercyhurst 2-0 in 2004.
Indiana (Pa.) was picked to finish third in the Western Division, followed by Edinboro, Gannon, Lock Haven, California (Pa.), and Clarion. In the Eastern Divison, East Stroudsburg was selected second, followed by Bloomsburg, Shippensburg, Kutztown, Millersville, and Mansfield.
Mercyhurst went 15-4-3 in 2007 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament before being eliminated by undefeated Grand Valley State on penalty kicks after the two teams battled to a 1-1 tie through regulation and two overtimes.