WINTHROP, Mass. – The Lasell University women's soccer team has been voted to finish in third place in the 2021 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the GNAC office on Tuesday afternoon.
Johnson & Wales University received 12 of a possible 14 first-place votes en route to running away with the top spot (193 points). Saint Joseph's College of Maine finished second in the rankings with 177 points, just ahead of third-place and longtime GNAC powerhouse Lasell with 167 points. Both SJC and LU received one first-place tally.
Led by veteran head coach Vito La Francesca, Lasell will open up at home on September 1 against Eastern Connecticut State University, followed by five straight road games, including the GNAC opener at Emmanuel College on September 11. The home-away ratio with even itself out with four consecutive home games in October, and the final regular-season game against Regis College in October 27.
The Lasers return 13 veterans with collegiate experience, along with several strong newcomers who will be looking to make an impact. Among the key returnees are graduate student Korynne Provenzano (Stratham, N.H.) and junior Bobbi O'Guin (Newton, Mass./Newton North), who were All-GNAC selections in 2019.
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), and 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. Saint Joseph (Conn.) - 103
8. Colby-Sawyer - 89
9. Simmons - 88
10. Norwich - 84
11. Elms - 80
12. Rivier - 50
13. Dean - 31
14. Anna Maria - 27
(Courtesy of the GNAC Office)
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