Edison, NJ (Feb. 9, 2023) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) announces Canisius as the 2023 softball preseason favorite after tallying the 2023 MAAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Canisius received nine first place votes in the 2023 preseason coaches’ poll to total 119 points. The Griff’s have four players named to the preseason All-MAAC team including the preseason Player of the Year.
Marist finished second in the polling right behind Canisius with 102 total points including one first place vote. Fairfield finished in third in voting with 88 total points, Iona totaled 79 points to finish fourth in polling and Siena finished fifth in voting with 74 points to round out the top half of the poll.
Mount St. Mary’s finished in sixth with 69 points, seventh place went to Rider with 64 points, Manhattan came in eighth, while also earning a single first place vote. Niagara received 38 points to take the eighth place, Saint Peter’s took ninth place with 28 points and the final spot went to Quinnipiac with 22 points.
Canisius’ pitcher, Megan Giese, was named Preseason Player of the Year for the 2023 season. Giese earns MAAC Preseason Player of the Year honors after being named to the 2022 All-MAAC Championship team and the 2022 Softball All-MAAC First Team.
Please see the preseason coaches’ poll and All-MAAC team below.
| 2023 Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll |
| 1 |
Canisius |
119 (9) |
| 2 |
Marist |
102 (1) |
| 3 |
Fairfield |
88 |
| 4 |
Iona |
79 |
| 5 |
Siena |
74 |
| 6 |
Mount St. Mary’s |
69 |
| 7 |
Rider |
64 |
| 8 |
Manhattan |
43 (1) |
| 9 |
Niagara |
38 |
| 10 |
Saint Peter’s |
28 |
| 11 |
Quinnipiac |
22 |
| 2023 Preseason Player of the Year |
| Megan Giese - Canisius |
| 2023 Preseason All-MAAC Team |
| Player |
Position |
Year |
Institution |
| Gianna Fazzolari |
Catcher |
Jr. |
Canisius |
| Saige Alfaro |
Infielder |
So. |
Canisius |
| Lauren Rende |
Infielder |
Sr. |
Manhattan |
| Cara McNulty |
Infielder |
Sr. |
Saint Peter's |
| Emma Capuano |
Infielder |
Jr. |
Iona |
| Alyssa Grupp |
Infielder |
Jr. |
Marist |
| Charli Warren |
Outfield |
So. |
Fairfield |
| Christie McGee-Ross |
Outfield |
Jr. |
Canisius |
| Isabella Pardo |
Outfield |
Jr. |
Siena |
| Jessica Chilcott |
Outfield |
Gr. |
Iona |
| Jessie Niegocki |
Utility |
Jr. |
Rider |
| Megan Giese |
Pitcher |
Jr. |
Canisius |
| Kara Zazzaro |
Pitcher |
Gr. |
Iona |
The 2023 MAAC Softball Championship is a six-team double elimination tournament taking place between May 10-14, 2023. The championship will be hosted by the highest seed.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 42nd year of competition during the 2022-23 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
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