Centennial Conference Preseason Poll
Centennial Conference Team-by-Team Outlook
HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College women's soccer team has been picked to finish fourth in the Centennial Conference's annual preseason poll. The Fords garnered 74 points in the voting among conference coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
In an always competitive conference, coaches once again expect Haverford be in the mix. Johns Hopkins received nine of the 11 first-place votes to secure the title of preseason favorite, while rival Swarthmore picked up the remaining first place votes. McDaniel, a third NCAA Tournament team from the conference last year, was picked third in the league – just two points ahead of the Fords. Dickinson rounded out the squads the coaches have predicted to make it back to the conference tournament.
Haverford lost three All-Centennial Conference performers to graduation from the 2017 team which earned the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament last fall. However, depth has always been a strength of the Fords and this year appears to be no different as the Fords have 11 different players who have started at least 10 matches during the careers. That group includes Katie Safter, who is a three-time All-Centennial Conference performer, heading into her senior season. Kendra Griesman also earned second-team All-CC accolades following the 2016 season.
The Fords have made the Centennial Conference Tournament in nine of head coach Jamie Schneck's 11 seasons as head coach, including each of the last two seasons. Haverford went 9-6-3 overall last season, boasting a 6-2-2 record in conference matches to finish third in the regular season standings. Haverford saw its season come to a heart-breaking close with a 2-1 defeat against Swarthmore after tying the Garnet during the regular season.
Women's soccer kicks off its 2018 season on Saturday, September 1 with the annual Haverford Kick Off Classic. The Fords start the year with a 1:30 p.m. first touch against Arcadia. St. John Fisher and Montclair State will also take place in this season's annual event. Centennial Conference play gets underway on Wednesday, September 19 when Haverford travels to Muhlenberg for a 7 p.m. match under the lights.