Mansfield, Mass. - After last year's exciting run to the NE10 Championship, the Adelphi University women's soccer team has been selected to finish third in the conference by the league's twelve head coaches, following Tuesday's NE10 preseason rankings announcement.

With the arrival of NE10 Player and Rookie of the Year Madison Apicella, the 'Cats put together a 12-6-2 campaign in 2022 -- the most wins for the program since 2017.

Apicella became just the second player in league history to win both NE10 Player and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season. The then-freshman concluded the regular season as the NE10's scoring leader with 21 points.

Then, in the postseason, Apicella assisted on the game-tying goal, and delivered the winning overtime goal at Franklin Pierce that cemented Adelphi's spot in the NE10 Championship final.

Adelphi trailed both Franklin Pierce and three-time defending NE10 Tournament champion Saint Rose, but all three teams received first-place votes in the balloting.

Saint Rose earned nine first-place votes to lead all teams, followed by Franklin Pierce's three and Adelphi's one.

The Panthers spread the wealth offensively in 2022, with twelve different players getting on the scoresheet for the 'Cats last season. In conference games alone, Adelphi's 24 goals were the second-most of any team in the NE10.

Head Coach Brooke DeRosa and the Panthers begin their NE10 title quest at home on Thursday, Aug. 31, when they welcome in Wilmington University for a 7:30 p.m. opening kickoff.

2023 NE10 Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Saint Rose (Nine First-Place Votes) - 119 Points
2. Franklin Pierce (Two First-Place Votes) - 107 Points
3. Adelphi (One First-Place Vote)  - 103 Points
4. Southern New Hampshire - 88 Points
5. Southern Connecticut - 72 Points
6. Saint Anselm - 69 Points
7. Assumption - 63 Points
8. Bentley - 56 Points
9. Pace - 44 Points
10. American International - 33 Points
11. Saint Michael's - 23 Points
12. New Haven - 15 Points