College Women: Quinnipiac is big favorite to again take Northeast title

Quinnipiac has been picked as the preseason favorite to win the 2001 NEC Championship. The Braves (7-2-1 NEC), who tied for the regular-season title last year before winning the NEC Tournament, will be guided by 2000 NEC Coach of the Year David Clarke. In only his third season at the helm, Clarke returns an outstanding squad which will be looking to appear in its third consecutive NEC Championship match, this time, ready to defend its crown. Quinnipiac returns a strong contingent from last season, including three all-conference players. Junior forward Elisa Goncalves (South Windsor, CT/South Windsor) proved that her stellar freshman campaign was no fluke by taking home NEC Player of the Year and NEC Tournament MVP honors as a sophomore. She ranked second in the league in scoring (35 points, 16 goals, 3 assists) and goals per game (0.76). Joining Goncalves on the all-NEC first team last year was fellow classmate, defender Melissa Ganias (Wallingford, CT/Sheehan (MA)). Junior forward Alison Jaquith (Spencer, MA/David Prouty), a two-time all-NEC second teamer, rounds out the all-NEC returnees after tallying 5 goals and 2 assists last year. Sophomore forward/midfielder Meghan Kennedy (West Hartford, CT/Westminster), who came on strong later in the season and ended up posting 12 goals, will also be a key ingredient for the team to repeat as NEC Champions. Monmouth, who tied with Quinnipiac for the regular-season title last year, looks to pose the biggest threat to the Braves. The Hawks have always been strong defensively and will rely upon all-conference second teamer, junior defender Shanna Palumbo (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) to continue her outstanding play in the backfield. Junior midfielder Valerie Leininger (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan), who was named all-NEC first team, returns as the teamÆs leader in assists after tallying six last year. After graduating its top two scorers, Monmouth will need to work off its defense to make things happen offensively this season. The top four teams will advance to the 2001 NEC WomenÆs Soccer Championship, which will be hosted by St. Francis University on Nov. 2 and 4, 2001. 2001 NEC Preseason Coaches Poll