The Monmouth women’s soccer team was one of six CAA members to receive at least one first-place vote, as the Hawks edged out the group to be selected as the conference’s preseason favorite in a poll of the league’s 13 head coaches.

Rolling out the Women's #CAASoccer ⚽️ Preseason Poll@MonmouthWSOC was 1️⃣ of 6️⃣ teams to receive at least one first-place vote

the Hawks edged out the group as the conference’s preseason favorite in a poll of the league’s 13 head coaches

📰 https://t.co/YKJGScenw6 pic.twitter.com/Vdhaq8S0E2

— Coastal Athletic Association (@CAASports) August 10, 2023

In addition, Northeastern forward Vivian Akyirem followed an outstanding freshman campaign by being named Preseason Player of the Year heading into her sophomore season. Akyirem’s 13 goals in her first collegiate season were tied for the most by any Division I rookie over the last three seasons.

CAA regular-season champion Monmouth (6), Northeastern (1), CAA tournament champion Hofstra (3), Towson (1), Drexel (1), and newcomer Campbell (1) each received a first-place vote, with the first five of those teams separated by 13 total points and Monmouth edging Northeastern by one point.

Women's #CAASoccer ⚽️ Preseason Favorites@MonmouthWSOC went 13-2-3 in 2022 and captured the CAA regular-season crown in its first year in the league

📰 https://t.co/YKJGScenw6 pic.twitter.com/nIAPbaKxax

— Coastal Athletic Association (@CAASports) August 10, 2023

Monmouth went 13-2-3 in 2022 and captured the CAA regular-season crown in its first year in the league. The Hawks ranked ninth nationally in won-lost-tied percentage (.806), 19th in goals-against average (0.659), and 27th in scoring offense (2.11 goals/game).

Northeastern played in its second consecutive CAA title game in 2022, as the Huskies hosted the final at Parsons Field in a 10-6-4 campaign. Hofstra rattled off a magical run in October and November to become the first No. 8 seed ever to win the CAA title. Towson and Drexel were semifinalists in the eight-team CAA Championship, while Campbell won the Big South regular-season title prior to entering the league this summer.

The Camels were picked seventh in the 13-team poll behind Elon, which is the most recent team to win a CAA title (2020-21) prior to Hofstra’s active streak. William & Mary finished just ahead of UNCW and Stony Brook in a tight vote between eighth and 10th, while Charleston, Delaware, and Hampton rounded out the poll for a 13-team table – the largest in league history. 

9️⃣ teams were represented on the preseason #CAASoccer list with @DrexelWSoccer, @GoNUwsoccer and @Towson_WSOC each earning two spots and @GoCamelsWSOC, @HofstraWSOC, @MonmouthWSOC, @UNCWSoccer, @StonyBrookWSOC, and @WMTribeWSOC each collecting one

📰 https://t.co/YKJGSceVlE pic.twitter.com/PpSEbbRHCj

— Coastal Athletic Association (@CAASports) August 10, 2023

Nine CAA teams were represented on the 12-player preseason All-CAA list with Drexel, Northeastern, and Towson each earning two selections and Campbell, Hofstra, Monmouth, UNCW, Stony Brook, and William & Mary each collecting one.

The CAA Women’s Soccer Championship will move to a six-team format in 2023 with the top two seeds hosting opening weekend games on October 26 & 29, with the final slated for the highest remaining seed on Saturday, Nov. 4.

Women's #CAASoccer ⚽️ Preseason Player of the Year@GoNUwsoccer's Vivian Akyirem scored 13 goals in her first collegiate season that tied for the most by any Division I rookie over the last three seasons

📰 https://t.co/YKJGScenw6 pic.twitter.com/PoeCCtHeJU

— Coastal Athletic Association (@CAASports) August 10, 2023

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