NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Duquesne has been chosen to finish tied for third in the Atlantic 10 Conference preseason women's soccer preseason poll. The vote is conducted by the league's 14 head coaches. The Dukes (11-6-3; 6-3-1 A-10) received 145 votes along with George Mason. Saint Louis (192 votes/10 first place votes) and defending champion La Salle (184/4) were voted to finish first and second respectively.
Duquesne has three players named to the 11-member Preseason All-Conference team in seniors
Katie O'Connor,
Casey Aunkst and
Kyra Murphy. O'Connor and Aunkst are coming off a 2017 season where they were named First-Team All-Conference. Murphy became the Dukes' all-time leader in victories last season.
The top eight teams will compete in the 2018 Atlantic 10 Women's Soccer Championship. The opening rounds will be held on the campus of the higher seeds on Oct. 27 and 28. The top four teams will then advance to play at Dayton's Baujan Field in the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 2. The championship finale will be held on Sunday, Nov. 4 with the winner earning the A-10's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
| Team |
Votes |
| 1. Saint Louis |
192 |
| 2. La Salle |
184 |
| T-3. Duquesne |
145 |
| T-3. George Mason |
145 |
| 5. VCU |
140 |
| 6. Saint Joseph's |
136 |
| 7. Dayton |
119 |
| 8. George Washington |
98 |
| 9. Fordham |
83 |
| 10. Massachusetts |
72 |
| 11. Richmond |
58 |
| T-12. St. Bonaventure |
36 |
| T-12. Davidson |
36 |
| 14. Rhode Island |
25 |
