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Second-seeded York survived a shootout at top-seeded Christopher Newport to win the 2013 CAC women's soccer title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.  The CAC coaches predict the Captains and Spartans, along with the Salisbury Sea Gulls, will be the top three teams vying for the 2014 crown.

CNU picked up half of the first-place votes from the 10 conference coaches and compiled 74 points to sit atop the preseason poll.  Three coaches voted for York to defend its title, and the Spartans finished with 69 points in the poll.  In between, Salisbury gained two first-place votes and finished second with a total of 70 points.

Frostburg State finished a strong fourth in the preseason poll with 56 points, and the final six teams finished in pairs battling for position.  Mary Washington (47 points) edged St. Mary's (46 points) for fifth place.  Marymount registered 28 points to finish just above Southern Virginia (25 points), a second-year CAC team that is eligible to qualify for the CAC playoffs for the first time.  Wesley (17 points) outdueled Penn State Harrisburg (16 points) for ninth place in the preseason poll.

The new campaign begins Labor Day Weekend with a variety of non-conference matches and tournaments.  CAC play begins September 27 as the 10 teams battle for six conference playoff berths, leading to the championship game (and a chance for an NCAA automatic bid) on November 8, 2014.

Here is a brief look at each team entering the 2014 season:

Head coach Dan Weiler certainly made an impact in his first year at the helm for CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT, guiding the Captains all the way to the CAC regular season title and tournament championship game. CNU returned to the NCAA Tournament and finished the season with a 14-4-2 overall record, setting their sights on an even better result in 2014. Weiler's first recruiting class welcomes 13 newcomers to Newport News, and many will make an immediate impact on the field. CNU graduated all-time leading scorer Emma O'Reilly and CAC Player of the Year Bupe Okeowo, but the defense is rife with talented returners, including senior Kelsey Thomas and 2013 CAC Rookie of the Year Sam Rabinek. The midfield should continue to be a strength, led by All-Region senior Joy Piirto in the middle of the park. Another strong season is expected for the Captains in their second year as a member of the CAC.

Three of FROSTBURG STATE's top five scorers, including a two-starter in goal, return to highlight the 2014 Bobcats' women's soccer team.  SeniorStephanie Fazenbaker led the Bobcats and finished fourth in the CAC in scoring a year ago (28 pts.), while fellow senior Katie Smith has started the last 38 games in goal (155 saves) and together they will help push the Bobcats back to the top of the CAC standings.

MARY WASHINGTON will look to build upon a 10-win season in 2013 with a strong group of returners. All-CAC and all-state defender Jenny Mayo leads a defense that sees the return of goalkeeper Charlotte Owens, who missed the entire 2013 season, as well as starters Michelle Gibbons and Ashley Stephens. On offense, All-CAC junior Jessica Bednarcik, junior Lizzie Weast, and Leah Roth will look to pick up the slack left by the graduation on Erin Reynolds, who closed her career in 2013 with 36 career goals - the fifth-most in school history.

MARYMOUNT and head coach Gayle Wilson return a wealth of experienced seniors, as well as several key offensive threats, for the 2014 season.  Sophomores Chloe McAuliffe (7 goals, 2 assists, 16 points) and Kirsten Campbell (4 goals, 3 assists, 11 points) represent the returning firepower for the Saints, while classmate Rebecca Kransinki returns for her second year after collecting All-CAC accolades last fall.

PENN STATE HARRISBURG is looking to build on a 2013 campaign that saw the program record seven victories and earn the school's first-ever CAC win. The ladies return a number of experienced upperclassmen who will make up a strong nucleus, including senior goalkeeper Mackenzie Gates, senior midfielder Hannah Jorich, senior defender/midfielder Danell Engle, junior midfielder Rachel Shetler and junior defender Kristin Peckman. The Lions also return junior midfielder Morgan Gates; a key contributor in 2012 who missed all of 2013 due to injury. Those returners, combined with ten talented newcomers in the form of freshmen and transfers, look poised to make a push for a CAC postseason berth this fall.

ST. MARY'S First-year head coach Peter Krech is excited to begin his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater in 2014. Coach Krech inherits a team that finished third in the CAC standings and matched a program-best six (6) conference wins a year ago. Last season, the Seahawks overcame a lot of adversity and injuries for the right to host a playoff game for the first time since 2010 and St. Mary's is hoping to make it two years in a row in 2014. The Seahawks will look to the leadership and experience of CAC all-stars, Gillian Sawyer (7g, 2a) and Claire Kostelnik, and defenders Caryn Thompson and Morgan Dorset to keep the flock headed in the right direction.

SALISBURY comes into the 2014 season anchored by its two-time first-team All-Capital Athletic Conference senior goalkeeper Michelle Conrad. Conrad is a three-year starter for the Gulls and played over 1,127 minutes and saved .853 percent of shots faced in 2013; she will be joined on the defense by junior Tabitha Brown, a third-team All-Region and first-team all-conference player in 2013. Junior Samantha Beck (first-team All-CAC) and sophomore Lindsey Andonian (second-team All-CAC), the Sea Gulls' leading scorers with 14 and 12 points, respectively, last season, will be back this season to lead the team's attack, which returns every player that registered a point in 2013. Second-team All-CAC selection Jenny Gavigan also returns to help control the midfielder for the Gulls.

SOUTHERN VIRGINIA enters its first year of eligibility for the Capital Athletic Conference tournament and aims to accomplish the feat with a top-six finish in the league race.  Sophomore forward Tatiana Monsen returns after leading the team in goals last season with 12. Junior Alicia Blackhamalso returns as a key leader on the defensive end and added four goals of her own last season. Sophomore Kora Jewell gained valuable experience as a starter in the midfield last season and looks to lead that group this season.  The Knights lost a powerful groups of seniors from a year ago, including All-CAC second teamer Lora Palmer, who tied for the team high with 12 goals

Most of WESLEY's team returns for head coach Ed Muntz who enters his 20^th season as the head coach.  Led by Chelsi Biener and Morgan Warrington up top as well as Stevi Carpenter and Kerri Pagels in the back, the Wolverines are poised to return to the CAC Playoffs in 2014.  Among the key newcomers should be Lauren Price, a transfer from Division I Delaware State, as well as freshman Nasia Denegal, Cassidy McSorley andKaitlyn Ennis. Wesley opens the season at home on August 30 against St. Elizabeth.

The reigning Capital Athletic Conference champion YORK Spartans return a wealth of talent as the Spartans look to navigate a tough schedule and return to the NCAA Tournament. York College head coach Vicki Sterner welcomes back her All-Region goalkeeper in Mel Glessner, and 11 of her top 12 goal scorers from last year's 13-win team. In addition to Glessner, the Spartans return All-CAC performers Clare Chatham, Kayla Kovalsky, Jamie Sokolis and Chelsea McDowell. The Green and White will need to replace two starting defenders but the remainder of the starting lineup returns intact. York also welcomes back forward Jordan Snook who missed all but three games last year due to a season ending injury.

2014 CAC Women's Soccer Pre-Season Coaches Poll