Golden Bears Picked Seventh in CCC Preseason Coaches Poll
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (August 24, 2016) – The Western New England University women's soccer team has been selected to finish seventh in the 2016 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Preseason Coaches Poll, which was released today by the league office.
Western New England collected 33 points in a vote of the CCC's ten head coaches to earn its seventh place finish. Two-time defending conference champion Roger Williams received six of the ten first place votes, finishing atop the poll as the CCC preseason favorite. Wentworth followed in second with 94 points and the four remaining first place votes, while the University of New England rounded out the top three with 75 points.
Kristin Hensinger '07, a 2015 Western New England Downes Athletics Hall of Famer and longtime assistant coach under the recently retired Ron Dias, takes charge of the women's soccer program heading into 2016.
Hensinger will have four of her top five leading scorers from last fall back this season, led by senior forwards Emma Norden (Belchertown, Mass.) and Brooke Labrie (Granby, Mass.), who compiled 12 points each with five goals and two assists. Also returning is senior defender Katelyn Cummings (Feeding Hills, Mass.), a two-time All-CCC selection that started 17 of 19 matches last fall and recorded seven points on two goals and three assists. Cummings will serve as co-captain along with junior defender Brittney White (Milford, N.H.).
Western New England hosts Hartwick College in its 2016 season opener on Thursday, September 1 at Suprenant Field, before hitting the road for a pair of contests at the 12th annual Husson Classic on September 3-4. The Golden Bears open their CCC slate against the University of New England on Saturday, September 10.
