Kent State Soccer Tabbed MAC East Favorite in 2017
8/14/2017 4:14:00 PM | Women's Soccer
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Defending Mid-American Conference Tournament champion Kent State has been voted as the favorite to repeat as MAC East Division champions in the conference's women's soccer preseason poll, the league announced Monday afternoon.
Following a historic season in which they won a program-record 15 matches and advanced to their first ever NCAA Tournament, the Golden Flashes received 10 out of a possible 12 first-place votes from the conference's head coaches to win the MAC East. Additionally, the Flashes received two votes to win the conference tournament for the second straight season.
The other two first-place votes in the East Division went to Buffalo, who finished second in the poll.
Ball State was selected as the favorite to win the 2017 MAC Women's Soccer Tournament with four votes. The reigning regular season champion totaled seven first-place votes in being tabbed as the favorite to win the MAC West crown. Central Michigan was picked to finish second and had three first-place votes, while Western Michigan and Northern Illinois also received a first-place in the West Division.
Head Coach Rob Marinaro welcomes back the core of last year's squad with eight returning starters. Senior Donavan Capehart and junior Paige Culver were All-MAC honorees last season, while junior Ashleah McDonald garnered NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region recognition. Senior forward Hayden Pascoe is the Flashes' top returning scorer with 17 points on six goals and five assists in 2016.
Kent State starts the 2017 regular season this Friday, Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. when its goes on the road to battle Purdue out of the Big Ten. The home opener will be against Cleveland State at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 20 at Dix Stadium, the new home of Golden Flashes soccer.
2017 MAC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll (First Place Votes)
East Division
1. Kent State (10)
2. Buffalo (2)
3. Miami
4. Ohio
5. Akron
6. Bowling Green
West Division
1. Ball State (7)
2. Central Michigan (3)
3. Western Michigan (1)
4. Eastern Michigan
5. Northern Illinois (1)
6. Toledo
MAC Tournament Champion
Ball State - 4
Central Michigan - 3
Kent State - 2
Eastern Michigan / Buffalo / Northern Illinois - 1
