SOMERSET, N.J. - The Fairleigh Dickinson women's soccer team has been picked to finish second in the 2021 Northeast Conference (NEC) Preseason Poll released by the conference office on Tuesday afternoon.

A second-place finish would put FDU back in the NEC Tournament after last season's restructuring of the playoff format. Prior to the shortened season, the Knights had been a part of seven straight NEC tournaments. The Burgundy and Blue finished third in the NEC last season with a 5-2 in-conference record.

Rounding out the preseason poll (in order of finish) are: Central Connecticut (1), Sacred Heart (3), Bryant (4), Saint Francis U (Pa.) (5), Merrimack (6), LIU (7), new associate member Howard (8), Mount St. Mary's (9), St. Francis Brooklyn (10) and Wagner (11).

"While we are excited that our peers have placed us second in the preseason poll, we also know that means every team is going to be focused on taking us out," said head coach Eric Teepe. "It should give us confidence in ourselves about what we are capable of, but should also warn us of the challenge ahead. We are excited to start that journey again!"

Teepe's Knights return seven All-NEC honorees including All-NEC First Team selections senior Christa Waterman (her second year in a row selected to the First Team) and senior Madelyn Robbins, who earned team MVP honors for the 2020-21 season, All-NEC Second Team picks junior Naemi Hausen and seniors Isabelle Udovc and Paula Ruess and NEC All-Rookie Team honorees sophomores Michelle Williams and Franziska Theus.

2020-21 marked the seventh consecutive season of two or more student-athletes selected to the First Team All-NEC and Teepe, who returns to the banks of the Hackensack for his eighth season, has with plenty of additional experience at his disposal. The Knights also return 14 players who started at least one fixture last season, along with five of the six goal scorers from last season. FDU also returns graduate student Cassandra Marcoux who started seven matches in goal last season, recording 35 saves and logged a goals against average of 1.49.

To view the full NEC preseason poll release please click here or the link above.

The Knights are set to begin their season on Thursday, August 19 when they travel to Piscataway to take on Rutgers in non-conference action at 7:00 p.m. live on Big Ten Network+.

Fans can follow FDU women's soccer on Instagram and Twitter, @FDUKnightsWSOC.