New York, NY - Coming off their most successful season in more than 20 years, the Iona College Gaels have been selected as the team to beat in 2006-07 by the league's 10 head coaches.
The Gaels are led by fifth year head coach Anthony Bozzella who claimed a share of the coach of the year award after his club earned a 17-12 overall record last season, while finishing third in conference play with a record of 13-5. The Gaels return a trio of All-MAAC selections in Martina Weber (15.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg), Tiara Headen (13.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and Toni Horvath (7.3 ppg, 5.28 apg).
Following Iona in the poll was 2006 MAAC Regular Season & Tournament Champions Marist College. Last season head coach Brian Giorgis led Marist to program record 23 wins and their second NCAA Tournament bid in the past three years, capturing a share of the coach of the year trophy in the process. The Red Foxes lost their leading scorer, Fifi Camara, to graduation but return several players with championship experience. Giorgis will look to MAAC Tournament MVP Meg Dahlman (14.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg) to lead the way. Also returning is two-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Year Alisa Kresge (6.33 apg, 1.73 spg) along with junior guard Nikki Flores (5.6 ppg) and All-Rookie selection Julianne Viani (8.6 ppg, .407 3FG%).
The Griffins of Canisius College are also expected to make some noise this season, earning third place in the coaches?™ poll. The senior duo of All-MAAC selection Megan Lyte (12.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and Jessie Lamparski (5.9 ppg, 4.1 apg) will be expected to lead the Griffs. Canisius should also get help from the reigning rookie of the year, Amanda Cavo (9.7 ppg, .473 3FG%), who?™ll be looking to pick up where she left off a season ago.
Veteran head coach Gina Castelli returns to the sidelines for her 17th season to lead the Saints of Siena College, who were fourth in the coaches?™ poll. The Saints are coming off a season where they finished seventh in the league standings with a record of 7-11, 11-17 overall. All-MAAC junior forward Laura Menty (14.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg, .505 FG%) is back to help lead the Saints?™ charge. Also back is the 11.6 points per game efforts of senior guard Katelyn Dooley. She also dished 2.7 assists per game.
Fairfield University looks ready to compete for one of the league?™s top spots this season. Last season saw 28 year head coach Dianne Nolan claim her 500th career victory as a coach, but the Stags finished the conference season with a 7-11 record while going 11-18 overall. Junior guard Sabra Wrice (13.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg) returns for the Stags and will likely be the team?™s most potent offensive threat. Also returning for the Stags are All-Rookie selection Baendu Lowenthal (8.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and senior guard Cara Murphy (10.7 ppg).
Manhattan College, Loyola College, Niagara University, Saint Peter?™s College and Rider University are picks six through 10.
Preseason Coaches Poll
First Place Votes In Parenthesis |
| 1. | Iona (5) | 94 |
| 2. | Marist (3) | 90 |
| 3. | Canisius (1) | 80 |
| 4. | Siena | 59 |
| 5. | Fairfield (1) | 58 |
| 6. | Manhattan | 53 |
| 7. | Loyola | 50 |
| 8. | Niagara | 27 |
| 9. | Saint Peter's | 22 |
| 10. | Rider | 17 |