Aug. 26, 2010

LANCASTER, PA - The Johns Hopkins women's soccer team is once again the preseason favorite to finish atop the Centennial Conference. The Blue Jays, winners of five straight conference titles, were the overwhelming choice to win the conference as they received 100 points and 10 first place votes in a vote by the conference's head coaches.

Dickinson ranks second with 85 points and one first place nod. Swarthmore is in third with 78 points, with Muhlenberg (67) and Haverford (65) completing the top five.

Hopkins is ranked sixth in the NSCAA National Preseason Poll and in 2010 looks to continue its success in both the Centennial Conference and NCAA Tournament. The Blue Jays finished 2009 with the most wins in program history, posting a 19-4 record. They also advanced further than any team in program history, reaching the NCAA Quarterfinals before falling to eventual national champion Messiah, 3-1.

Eight starters return for JHU, including the entire defensive backfield that surrendered only 11 goals in 2009. The defense will be anchored by 2009 Centennial Conference Player of the Year Jessica Hnatiuk and three-time First Team Centennial Conference selection Jenn Paulucci. Hnatiuk and Paulucci were also named to the All-Mid-Atlantic First and Second Teams, respectively. The Blue Jays also return their top two scorers from last season in All-Centennial selections Erica Suter and Erin Stafford. The duo combined for 19 goals and 14 assists in 2009, contributing to nearly 40 percent of Hopkins scoring.

JHU begins the year on Saturday, September 4 at 2:00 pm against Fredonia State in the Salisbury Tournament.

School (1st Place Votes) - Points

1. Johns Hopkins (10) - 100

2. Dickinson (1) - 85

3. Swarthmore - 78

4. Muhlenberg - 67

5. Haverford - 65

6. Gettysburg - 63

7. Ursinus - 53

8. Franklin & Marshall - 32

9. McDaniel - 30

10. Washington - 19

11. Bryn Mawr - 13

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