The Hofstra University women were picked to finish second in the Colonial Athletic Association in a vote of the league’s 12 head coaches, it was announced on Friday.

The Pride, which won the CAA last season for the eighth time and finished the campaign at 17-4-1, earned 111 points to finish second in the poll behind UNCW (115). The Pride received four first-place votes.

Three players – Anja Suttner, Krista Agostinello, and Skylar Kuzmich – were named to All-CAA Association preseason teams.

Suttner, a two-time CAA defensive player of the year, made her second consecutive appearance on the preseason team. The senior helped the Pride record a program-record 13 shutouts in 2021 and added a goal and two assists in Hofstra’s run to the second round of the NCAA Division I Tournament. Suttner was an All-CAA and All-East Region selection last season.

Agostinello earned honorable mention preseason All-CAA accolades for the first time in her career. The graduate defender started all 22 games last season and was a key member of a defense that allowed only six shots per game. She also chipped in with three assists.

Kuzmich also earned honorable mention All-CAA preseason for the first time in her career. The senior goalkeeper started all 22 matches and posted a CAA-leading 0.58 goals against average, which also ranked 12th in the nation. Kuzmich posted 12 solo shutouts, which ranked second in the nation.

 

 

2022 CAA WOMEN’S SOCCER PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

 

Team (1st)

Points

1.

UNCW (7)

115

2.

Hofstra (4)

111

3.

Northeastern

95

4.

Monmouth (1)

86

5.

Towson

77

6.

Elon

72

7.

Delaware

59

8.

Drexel

55

9.

William & Mary

44

10.

Stony Brook

38

11.

Charleston

29

12.

Hampton

11

 

2022 CAA WOMEN’S SOCCER PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

 

Preseason All-Conference

Cl.

Pos.

Hometown

Nia Christopher, Towson

Jr.

F

Devonshire, Bermuda

Sara D’Appolonia, Delaware

Gr.

F

Yarmouth, Maine

Lauren Karabin, Monmouth

Gr.

F

Wall, N.J.

Delaney Lappin, Drexel

Jr.

F

Corbin City, N.J.

Phoebe Canoles, Towson

R-Jr.

M

Baltimore, Md.

Alexis Legowski, Northeastern

Sr.

M

South Hadley, Mass.

Morgan Nanni, UNCW

Gr.

M

Raleigh, N.C.

Talia Parrous, UNCW

Gr.

D

Fayetteville, N.C.

Faith Rosenblatt, Northeastern

Jr.

D

Cherry Hill, N.J.

Jesi Rossman, Monmouth

Gr.

D

Lady Lake, Fla.

Anja Suttner, Hofstra

Sr.

D

Bodenkirchen, Germany

Zoe Doughty, William & Mary

Sr.

GK

Woodbridge, Va.

CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Nia Christopher, Towson

Honorable Mention: Krista Agostinello, Gr., D, Hofstra; Blair Barefoot, Jr., GK, UNCW; Kayla Burroughs, So., F, UNCW; Abby Fusca, Sr., M, Elon; Skylar Kuzmich, Sr., GK, Hofstra; Katie Lowe, Jr., D, Elon; Jacey Miller, Sr., D, Towson; Annalena O’Reilly, Sr., M, Drexel; Caitlin St. Leger, So., M, Delaware; Catharina von Drigalski, Sr., D, Stony Brook

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.