Behrend No. 1 in AMCC Preseason Polls

GIBSONIA, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men’s soccer, women’s soccer and women's volleyball team have all been picked as the preseason favorites to win their respective Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Coaches (AMCC) titles this fall.

In men’s soccer, the Lions are looking for their conference-leading fifth title and first since the 2007 season. Two-time defending champion Medaille was chosen second and Penn State Altoona followed in third. Medaille has won four of the last five championships, while Penn State Altoona is competing for its first AMCC crown.

Last season, Behrend won its first-ever ECAC South Championship and finished with an overall mark of 18-5-2 overall to set a new program record for most wins.  Steve Duran of Franciscan and Alexander Rouse of Medaille were voted Co-Preseason Players of the Year.

In women’s soccer, the Lions were the top pick and will contend for their seventh league crown after falling in the AMCC semifinals and advancing to the ECAC Tournament last season. Penn State Altoona, the 2008 Champions, is chosen second and Medaille is picked to finish third. Elizabeth Watt from Penn State Altoona and Alyssa Hulbert from Hilbert were tabbed Co-Preseason Players of the Year.

Behrend headlines the women’s volleyball preseason poll as the No. 1 choice. The Lions are focused on capturing their third overall and first title since 2005. A year ago, Behrend posted a 22-11 record and advanced to the ECAC South Tournament. The Lions fell in the AMCC Finals to Frostburg, who dropped out of the AMCC at the end of the academic year.  Pitt-Bradford ranks second in the poll and Medaille is selected for third place.  Jackie Podrasky of Pitt-Bradford was voted the Preseason Player of the Year.