Lehigh picked fifth in PL preseason poll

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh was picked to finish fifth in the Patriot League preseason poll, the league announced on Thursday. The Mountain Hawks garnered 49 points in the poll, which is voted on by the league’s coaches and sports information directors. Lehigh was 7-7-4 overall last year but failed to reach the Patriot League tournament for the first time since 2003 after finishing sixth in the Patriot League standings with a 2-3-2 league record.

Head coach Manny Oudin enters his seventh season with eleven returning letter winners. The Mountain Hawks will be led by their five seniors, who should play major roles on defense. Captain Hailey Coonrad and Emily Means should shore up the back line, while Allie Caldwell and Amy Mastromonaco hold down the midfield. Three year starter Julie Kafka returns as part of a strong group of goalkeepers. Offensively, junior Liz Carlos returns as the team’s leading scorer from a year ago.

The top four teams in the preseason poll all received first place votes and are separated by just 18 points between first and fourth place. Two-time defending tournament champion Navy led the way with 88 points, two points more than second place Bucknell. The Bison actually received eight first place votes, four more than the Midshipmen. Colgate was picked third with 72 points and one first place vote, with American in fourth place, two points behind Colgate and 21 points ahead of Lehigh.

The Mountain Hawks earned seven more points than sixth place Army, with Holy Cross and Lafayette rounding out the poll.

Also on Thursday the Patriot League announced the preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year for women’s soccer. Bucknell’s Jennifer Dervarics earned preseason Offensive honors, while Defensive accolades went to Navy’s Shelly Moeller.

Lehigh opens its 2008 season on Friday August 29 when the Mountain Hawks host Rutgers at 7 p.m. at the Ulrich Sports Complex.

2008 Patriot League Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll

Team (# First Place Votes)	Points
1. Navy (4)	88
2. Bucknell (8)	86
3. Colgate (1)	72
4. American (3)	70
5. LEHIGH	49
6. Army	42
7. Holy Cross	23
8. Lafayette	18

Completed Event: Women's Soccer at Lafayette on October 29, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 2

Completed Event: Women's Soccer versus Boston University on October 25, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 4

Completed Event: Women's Soccer at Princeton on October 21, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 5

Completed Event: Women's Soccer at Holy Cross on October 18, 2025 , Win , 1, to, 0

Completed Event: Women's Soccer versus Colgate on October 15, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 2

Completed Event: Women's Soccer versus Loyola on October 10, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 2

Completed Event: Women's Soccer at American on October 4, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 3

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