ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men’s and women’s soccer teams were chosen to finish in first place in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) this fall, according to the preseason voting by the league’s head coaches.
The women tallied nine first-place votes to lead the league in the preseason poll. The Lions won their 10th conference championship and fourth straight title last season with a 2-1 overtime win against Pitt-Bradford. The Panthers are poised to give Behrend a run again this year after being voted to finish second overall and Franciscan came in third.
Junior forward Alex Bilka (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after being named an All-AMCC first-team and All-Great Lakes Region second-team choice. Bilka was second on the team in goals (15), assists (8) and points (38). She started every game and registered a point in 15 of the 23 games, while her 38 points ranks fourth for most points in a single season in program history.
For the men, the Lions earned five first-place votes to be selected to defend their AMCC title in 2015. Behrend was the conference’s regular-season champions and was undefeated in AMCC play. The Lions are looking to win their third straight conference championship this season with the return of five All-AMCC players, including senior defender Mike Worthy (Pittsburgh, PA/Upper St. Clair). Worthy earned All-Conference first-team honors and was selected as an ECAC All-Star.
AMCC WOMEN'S SOCCER POLL
2015 Preseason Rankings*
1. Penn State Behrend (3)
2. Pitt-Bradford (1)
3. Franciscan (2)
4. D'Youville (5)
5. Medaille (4)
6. Pitt-Greensburg (6)
7. La Roche (7)
8. Penn State Altoona (8)
9. Hilbert (9)
10. Mount Aloysius (10)
AMCC MEN'S SOCCER POLL
2015 Preseason Rankings*
1. Penn State Behrend (1)
2. Medaille (2)
3. La Roche (4)
4. Mount Aloysius (T5)
5. Pitt-Greensburg (3)
6. D'Youville (T5)
7. Franciscan (T8)
T8. Penn State Altoona (T8)
9. Pitt-Bradford (7)
10. Hilbert (T8)
* Number in parentheses is order of regular season finish in 2014
