Women’s Soccer Voted Ninth in NE10 Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Skyhawks selected to finish ninth in 2018 poll

2018 NE10 Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll 


Campo scored three goals and one assist last season and was tabbed on the NEWISA second team

EASTON, Mass. (August 9, 2018) – The Stonehill College women's soccer program has been voted to finish ninth in the Northeast-10 Conference as tallied by the leagues' 15 head coaches, announced the league Thursday morning. 

For the third-straight year, Adelphi University has been picked to win the NE10 Championship collecting 185 points and six first-place marks. Returning champion, Southern New Hampshire University wasn't far behind the Panthers earning 180 points and six first-place votes, as well. Runner-up in last years' championship, Franklin Pierce University was voted third recording 166 points and one first-place vote. The College of Saint Rose (158 points) and Assumption College (141 points) each received one first-place vote as they sit fourth and fifth, respectively, in the poll.

Pace University just missed out in a top-five spot in the ballot as they totaled 130 points for sixth place, while American International College (104 points) and Merrimack College (103 points) battled out seventh and eighth, respectively. The Skyhawks totaled 88 points with their ninth-place position on the poll, while Le Moyne College rounded out the top 10 with 82 points.

Stonehill, ended the 2017 season tied for 10th in the Conference with a 7-11 overall record and a 5-9 NE10 mark. The Skyhawks saw four seniors graduate last year, while six will lead the squad and seven freshmen will don the Purple and White this season.

In her sixth season leading the women's soccer program, head coach Alex Wilson has guided the Skyhawks to two NE10 Tournament appearances, one NCAA Tournament appearance, coached one All-American in assistant coach Jamie Block '17, and has seen her 2016 coaching staff named National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) East Region Staff of the Year.

"We had a lot of players gain invaluable experience in 2017 and we're returning 21 veterans who are eager to get to work together," stated Wilson. "Our top-three scorers from last season are back and we have a talented group of seven freshmen joining the squad."

Seniors Erin O'Brien (West Hartford, Connecticut/Hall) and Emily Scollard (Lynnfield, Massachusetts/Lynnfield) will man the backfield as returning starters from the past three seasons. Both were part of the squad that led the 2016 team to the programs first-ever NCAA Tournament bid and held opponents to 19 goals, while shutting out 10 teams.

Also on the pitch will be senior midfielder Courtney Campo (Quincy, Massachusetts/North Quincy) who was named to the New England Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Association (NEWISA) second team last year and the NE10 All-Conference third team as a sophomore.


Garfield was selected for the NE10 All-Rookie Team last season with her five goals and five assists to lead the team.

Returning this season is leading scorers Nicole Garfield (Manchester, Connecticut/East Catholic) and Alex Giardina (Middletown, Connecticut/Middletown) who both tied with five goals each. Garfield also led the team with five assists as she was tabbed on the NE10 All-Rookie Team.

Following the leading scorers from last season, four returners notched two goals apiece, including senior Caroline Colbert (Peabody, Massachusetts/Peabody Veterans Memorial), juniors Isabella Collentro (Sandwich, Massachusetts/Sandwich) and Nicole Geraghty (Bridgewater, Massachusetts/Bridgewater-Raynham Regional), and sophomore Kayla Henry (Belchertown, Massachusetts/Belchertown). Geraghty was second on the team last season with four assists and was named to the NE10 All-Rookie Team in 2016. 

"Once again we're focused on what we do daily and that ultimately impacts our success on and off the field. As always the NE10 is a battle ground and we're looking forward to putting our style and game to the test," continued Wilson.

Stonehill opens up its 2018 campaign on Friday, August 31 in Old Westbury, New York for the East Region Crossover Challenge, hosted by New York Institute of Technology. The Skyhawks will take on Nyack College for the first game at 4:00 p.m. at President's Stadium, followed by a game versus the Bears on Saturday, September 1 at 1:30 p.m. Stonehill opens at home on Thursday, September 6 against Molloy College with a 3:00 p.m. start time on Skyhawk Field.

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market. 

2018 Northeast-10 Conference Women's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll
1. Adelphi University – 185 (6)
2. Southern New Hampshire University – 180 (6)
3. Franklin Pierce University – 166 (1)
4. College of Saint Rose – 158 (1)
5. Assumption College – 141 (1)
6. Pace University – 130
7. American International College – 104
8. Merrimack College – 103
9. Stonehill College - 88
10. Le Moyne College – 82
11. Bentley University – 75
12. Southern Connecticut State University – 55
13. Saint Anselm College – 48
14. University of New Haven – 42
15. Saint Michael's College – 18

(#) - first-place votes