The North Atlantic Conference (NAC) has released the 2016 Women's Soccer Preseason Poll and Johnson State College has been ranked to finish eighth in a vote conducted by the league's coaches.
Johnson State (2015: 5-12, 3-6 NAC) head Coach Andrew Lafrenz enters his first season at the helm for the Badgers and will look to All-NAC Second Team selection junior Kylie Aither (Hyde Park, Vermont) to provide a scoring touch at forward after recording 19 points last season. Returning senior midfielder Briana Stadler (Cornwall, N.Y.) and sophomore defender Aleia Augsberger (Craftsbury Common, Vermont) will also be looked to for contributions. Johnson welcomes a talented group of newcomers including midfielders Carmen Shappy (Milton, Vermont) and Shelby Baker (Arlington, Vermont), defender Andrea Mercer (Naugatuck, Conn.), and goalie Kaila Lemmer (Barnard, Vermont). The Badgers will begin their pursuit of a NAC playoff spot on September 1 in a home match against Curry College.