HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (Sept. 2, 2016)- After being slotted third in the CSAC preseason poll, the 2016 Centenary University women's soccer team is expected to make a lot of noise this season.

Last season, the Cyclones posted an 8-9-2 overall and a 7-2-2 record in the Colonial States Athletic Conference. Centenary had six players named to the All-CSAC, including Rookie of the Year in sophomore Amanda Benoit (Hazlet, N.J. / Raritan). Benoit totaled 27 points on nine goals and nine assists, while putting together a 15 point week during mid-October. She was joined on the first team by junior Emily Pizzuto (Flemington, N.J. / Hunterdon Central) and fellow classmate Kat MacNeil (Tuckerton, N.J. / Pinelands Regional). Pizztuo totaled 14 points on five goals and four assists, while MacNeil made 18 starts on the backline for Centenary.
Jessie Sharr (Belvidere, N.J. / Belvidere) and Korin Karszen (Manorville, N.Y. / Eastport South Manor) are the only two seniors on the team. Sharr totaled nine points in just ten games last season. Karszen started 12 games for the Cyclones last season on defense.  

Pizzuto is joined by fellow returning juniors in Jessica Benoit (Hazlet, N.J. / Raritan), Gabriella Kramer (Garfield, N.J. / Garfield), Kaitlin Marold (Edison, N.J. / Edison) and Katerina Albanese (Hillsborough, N.J. / Hillsborough). In 2015, Benoit ranked second on the team in points, goals and assists, behind her younger sister Amanda, with 22 points on eight goals and four assists. Kramer played in 14 games and totaled two points, while Albanese made the transition from goalkeeper to defender last season. Marold made 51 saves in 10 starts, but will battle with newcomer Taylor Pryslak (Belvidere, N.J. / Belvidere) for time in the net.

MacNeil and Benoit are joined by fellow returning sophomores Kara LaPolice (Hopewell, N.J. / Hunterdon Central), Alexa Winouski (New Egypt, N.J. / New Egypt), Kristin Karszen (Manorville, N.Y. / Eastport South Manor) and newcomer Sandy Sosa (Colonia, N.J. / John F. Kennedy). LaPolice was named CSAC Player of the Week and was well on her way to becoming an All-CSAC selection, before an injury sidelined her for the final seven games. Karszen played in 17 games last season and totaled nine points. Winouski only played in eight games, but was named to the CSAC All-Sportsmanship Team. Sosa will be called upon to fill the void left by graduating senior Jaclyn LaGuardia.

Newcomers Victoria Speakman (Sicklerville, N.J. / Timber Creek), Justine Stefura (Port Reading, N.J. / WoodBridge), Chloe Christopher (Flemington, N.J. / Hunterdon Central), Brittany Gray (Athol, Mass. / Mahar) and Cassidy Haller (Stroudsburg, Pa / Pocono Mountain East) will battle for time at their respective positions.

Head Coach Kevin Davies and the Cyclones will start the season in the 2016 Cyclone Kickoff Classic against Drew University on Sept. 2 and Stockton University on Sept. 3.