NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. -Western Connecticut State University will attempt to become the first team in Little East women's soccer history to win four consecutive conference championships after being tabbed the preseason favorite in the annual coaches' poll for the fourth straight season and eighth overall since joining the Little East in 1994. The Colonials received six of the eight first place votes to register 61 total points.

Eastern Connecticut State University (54) narrowly edged Keene State College (52) by just two points for the second position in the annual preseason coaches' survey. The Warriors and Owls each received a first-place ballot, but Eastern Connecticut earned four second place nods to provide the decisive margin. The University of Massachusetts Boston received 33 total points to make its first appearance in the top-half of the projected rankings. Each of the eight conference head coaches voted in the 20th edition of the women's soccer preseason poll. 

Under the guidance of Head Coach Joe Mingachos, Western Connecticut has been the gold standard among the conference programs over the past 12 campaigns, sporting a conference-only record of 68-8-8 (.900) and hoisting six of the 10 Little East championship trophies. Last fall, the Colonials (15-4-3) posted a 6-0-1 mark to earn at least a share of the regular season championship for the eighth time in program history. Western Connecticut made its fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament, advancing to the second round. 

Despite the loss of three members of the 2008 Little East all-conference teams, Mingachos and his charges are ranked 24th in the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America (NSCAA) Division III Preseason Poll. The Colonials will welcome back eight starters from a season ago, including the junior scoring tandem of Lauren Matthews (Monroe, Conn.) and Nicole Sieber (Newtown, Conn.). In 2008, Matthews and Sieber combined for 44 points, on 18 goals and eight assists. The Colonials will attempt to make a run at an unprecedented fourth straight conference championship, when Western Connecticut hosts Wheaton (Mass.) at 3 p.m. on Sept. 5.

Last season, the Warriors made their second straight and fifth overall appearance in the Little East Championship match. Under the watchful eye of Head Coach Chris D'Ambrosio, Eastern Connecticut posted an overall record of 11-5-1, marking the eighth consecutive campaign with at least 10 victories. The Warriors success in the conference circuit is even more impressive, winning at least five matches in each of the past eight seasons and capturing at least a share of the regular season title three times.  D'Ambrosio will feature one of the deepest defensive thirds in the conference with the return of three out of the four starters from last fall, including the top defensive player in senior back Christine Lemieux (South Windsor, Conn.). Between the pipes, classmate Kim Church (Farmington, Conn.) will begin her third season as Eastern Connecticut's top goalkeeper.

Head Coach Denise Lyons led Keene State College to the program's most single-season wins (16) since the 2000 squad registered a 20-3-1 mark. The Owls finished the 2008 campaign ranked third in the final conference standings with an overall record of 16-8-0, including a 5-2-0 mark in the Little East. Lyons' guided the Owls to the top seed in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Tournament, where Keene State reached the semifinal round. The Owls boast the top returning offensive threat in junior striker Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.). Bradford paced the conference circuit in points (42) and goals (19), while sharing the lead in game-winning goals (5) during her sophomore season. Keene State departed for Europe on Aug. 10 for a nine-day extended training camp, touring parts of Spain and France. The Owls open the 2009 slate against New England College at 6 p.m. on Sept. 2.     

Amy Zombeck, the 2008 Little East Coach of the Year, guided the Beacons to their most successful season in the program's history, posting an 8-11-2 record. UMass Boston recorded the program's first conference victory at Rhode Island College on Sept. 20, 2008, defeating the Anchorwomen, 2-0. The Beacons made their debut in the Little East Tournament, earning the right to host a first round match. UMass Boston powered past intra-state rival UMass Dartmouth, 4-0, before bowing out to the eventual champions in the semifinals. The Beacons' will look to build upon the success of the 2008 edition as they return 16 student-athletes, including nine starters.      

The top six teams in the final regular season standings will advance to the 2009 Little East Women's Soccer Championship Tournament with the highest two seeds earning a first round bye and the right to host a semifinal round contest on Thursday, Nov. 5. Two days later, the highest remaining seed will host the championship match. The winner of the 2009 Little East Women's Soccer Championship will earn the automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Completing the preseason coaches' poll in projected order of finish in the final conference standings are Plymouth State University (29), University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (28), Rhode Island College (17), and the University of Southern Maine (14).

The Little East Conference begins its 20th season sponsoring women's soccer in 2009. In 1990, Eastern Connecticut State University, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (Southeastern Massachusetts University), Plymouth State University (College), and the University of Southern Maine comprised the original four squads. Western Connecticut State University joined the conference in 1994, while the University of Massachusetts Boston and Rhode Island College raised the membership to seven the following year. Keene State College completed the current eight-team membership in 1997.