Women's Soccer Voted Second in League Poll

The University of Hartford women's soccer team has been selected to finish second overall by league coaches. The Hawks, who rode a 16-game unbeaten streak to open the 2011 season, received one first-place vote.

The preseason watch list for 2012 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy, the highest individual award in intercollegiate soccer, includes two Hawks. Senior midfielder Caitlin Alves and junior goalkeeper Erin Quinlan, All-Americans last season, were both named.

Boston University, the reigning America East Champion, is picked to win the league title, earning the remaining eight first-place votes. The Hawks are next with 56 points, followed by the University at Albany (48 points).

New Hampshire, Stony Brook, and Vermont make up the next three in the coaches poll. The top six teams advance to the 2012 America East Championship beginning October 25.

Alves and Quinlan led Hartford to a 13-2-3 overall record and an appearance in the semifinals of the 2011 America East Championship. The Hawks return more than 70 percent of their scoring, including the top two from 2011, Alves and senior forward Amelia Pereira. Alves led the Hawks with 10 goals and five assists for 25 points, while Pereira finished with seven goals and seven assists for 21 points.

Alves also led the America East in goals per game (0.6), points per game (1.4) and game-winning goals (6). Quinlan finished as the top keeper in the America East earning America East Goalkeeper of the Year accolades following her first season with the Hawks. Quinlan led all keepers in the nation with a .932 save percentage, allowing just seven goals and making 96 saves in 1,680 minutes. She also set a school record for solo shutouts in a season with 12, while also setting school-best marks in save percentage and goals-against average (.384).

The Hawks open their 2012 campaign with a four-game home stretch beginning on Friday, August 24, with a match-up against Fairleigh Dickinson.