Behrend Soccer Teams Selected To Defend AMCC Titles

ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's and women's soccer team have been voted to finish in first place in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC). The women's squad received 10 first-place votes from the conference coaches and the men tallied seven first-place votes to defend their AMCC title.

The women enter the 2017 season with 12 conference championships under their belt and are looking for their seventh straight. Pitt-Greensburg was voted to finish second and Pitt-Bradford likely to take third. The Lions senior forward Olivia Belack (Upper St. Clair, PA/Upper St. Clair) and senior defender Rachel Weyand (Butler, PA/Butler) were tabbed the AMCC Preseason Offensive and Defensive Preseason Players of the Year, respectively.

In 2016, Belack was the AMCC Offensive Player of the Year and went on to earn National Soccer Coaches of America (NSCAA) All-Region and Scholar All-American while being named an ECAC All-Star and First-Team All-Conference. She started in every game last season, leading the team and conference with 20 goals and 53 points. Belack also tallied 13 assists to set a new program single-season record.

Weyand is her earning her second straight Preseason Player of the Year accolades. She was named 2016 ECAC and AMCC Defensive Player of the Year, while also being a First Team All-Conference selection. Weyand was an ECAC All-Star and All-Region choice. She started every game on defense and helped the team post a 1.14 goals-against average while recording nine shutouts. Weyand also contributed on offense with two goals, including one game-winner, and four assists for eight points.

For the men, the Lions have captured four of the past six titles and are searching for their ninth championship overall. AMCC runner-up Medaille was selected second and Penn State Altoona rounds out the top three. Sophomore goalkeeper Chris Ralph (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) picked up Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors. He returns after earning All-American, All-Region and All-Conference accolades. Ralph posted a 15-2-3 record with a 0.62 goals-against average to go with nine shutouts.

Women's Preseason Ranking
1. Penn State Behrend (1)
2. Pitt-Greensburg (2)
3. Pitt-Bradford (3)
4. Mount Aloysius (4)
5. La Roche (T5)
6. Franciscan (7)
7. D'Youville (8)
8. Hilbert (T5)
9. Penn State Altoona (9)
10. Medaille (10)

Men's Preseason Ranking
1. Penn State Behrend (1)
2. Medaille (2)
3. Penn State Altoona (3)
4. La Roche (5)
5. Franciscan (4)
6. Mount Aloysius (6)
7. Pitt-Bradford (7)
8. D'Youville(8)
9. Pitt-Greensburg (9)
10. Hilbert (10)