WOMEN'S SOCCER: JWU With Repeat Hopes as Wildcats Take Top Spot in GNAC Preseason Poll

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wildcats collect all but
two first-place votes

WINTHROP, Mass. – Johnson & Wales University (RI) received 12 of a possible 14 first-place votes en route to running away with the top spot (193 points) in the 2021 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the GNAC office on Tuesday afternoon. 

Saint Joseph's College of Maine finished second in the rankings with 177 points, just ahead of third-place and longtime GNAC powerhouse Lasell University with 167 points. Both programs received one first-place tally.

Prior to last fall's lost COVID season, JWU last captured the GNAC Championship back in 2019, taking down SJC by a 2-1 final. The year prior, it was SJC that ended a historic eight-year GNAC Championship run for Lasell, winning the 2018 crown after the Lasers won it every year from 2010-17.

Key matchups between the three programs for the upcoming 2021 campaign include: Lasell at SJC (Oct. 2), JWU at Lasell (Oct. 16), SJC at JWU (Oct. 23). 

Four other GNAC programs surpassed 100+ points in the rankings, as Emmanuel College was fourth with 152 points, followed by Regis College with 124 points, Albertus Magnus College with 105 points, and University of Saint Joseph (CT) with 103 points. 

Rounding out the poll in order were Colby-Sawyer College (89 points), Simmons University (88), Norwich University (84), Elms College (80), Rivier University (50), Dean College (31), and Anna Maria College (31). 

It will be the first glimpses of GNAC play for both Dean and Elms, who are new to the conference. Elms just joined as a full member for 2021-22 and beyond, while Dean joined in 2020-21 but could only compete in spring sports due to the pandemic.

The 2021 GNAC Tournament will get underway with quarterfinal action on Saturday, October 30, followed by the semifinals on Wednesday, November 3, and the championship on Saturday, Nov. 6.

2021 GNAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Johnson & Wales (12) - 193
2. Saint Joseph's Maine (1) - 177
3. Lasell (1) - 167
4. Emmanuel - 152
5. Regis - 124
6. Albertus Magnus - 105
7. USJ - 103
8. Colby-Sawyer - 89
9. Simmons - 88
10. Norwich - 84
11. Elms - 80
12. Rivier - 50
13. Dean - 31
14. Anna Maria - 27 

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 3,500 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience. 

– #TheGNAC –