Rankings
KANSAS CITY, Mo.- The United Soccer Coaches Association released its Division II women's soccer preseason poll on Tuesday afternoon, and West Chester was ranked second in the first poll of 2023 after a historic 2022 season, which saw the Golden Rams advance to the National Championship game for the first time in program history.
West Chester enjoyed a season for the ages in 2023, capturing its first PSAC Tournament crown since 2010, its first Atlantic Regional Title since 2017, its first National Semifinal appearance since 2006, and first National Championship game appearance in school history. In recognition of the Golden Rams' outstanding season, West Chester landed four United Soccer All-Americans, including a trio of First Team selections in
Kaitlynn Haughey,
Kiley Kergides, and
Hayley McGee, while
Faith Matter secured Second Team honors. West Chester returns three of these four All-America selections in 2023, including PSAC East Player of the Year Haughey, Rookie of the Year Matter, and Kergides, who had an outstanding season on the backline. West Chester also returns all six of its leading scorers from a year ago, headlined by
Jacqueline Hug, who scored a team-best 10 goals in 2022, along with Matter, Haughey,
Alyson Cutter,
Julia Raybold, and Kergides. These six Golden Rams accounted for 42 of 60 goals last year for West Chester as six of the 15 different West Chester players to score a goal last season.
West Chester is the highest-ranked PSAC program in the poll, with Kutztown being the lone other representative, residing in 19
th, entering the 2023 season.
National-Championship game foe, Western Washington, earned the top spot in the preseason poll, while fellow National Semifinalist Columbus State secured the third spot in the poll. Colorado School of the Mines and West Florida rounded out the top five, while the Golden Rams National-Semifinal opponent, Ferris State, was ranked sixth.
West Chester opens the 2023 season on the road on August 31
st with a matchup against Jefferson before returning home on September 9th for a PSAC East battle against rival East Stroudsburg beginning at 12 p.m.
