UAlbany Women's Soccer Tabbed Fourth in A-East Preseason Poll; Shaw Promoted to Associate Coach

Albany, N.Y. - UAlbany has been chosen to finish fourth in the 2010 America East Conference Women's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll, as announced by the league office on Tuesday, Aug. 17. The Great Danes, who received 44 points in the poll, kick off their season at the Las Vegas Invitational against the host UNLV Rebels of the Mountain West Conference on Friday, Aug. 27 at 10 p.m. ET.

Boston University, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year last fall, was unanimously picked to win the conference championship. The Terriers received the maximum eight first-place votes and 64 points. Stony Brook was selected to finish second with one first-place vote and 52 points. Binghamton checked in at third with 47 points, followed by UAlbany, Maine, New Hampshire, Hartford, Vermont and UMBC.

UAlbany, which has no seniors on its 23-player roster, returns 14 letterwinners and eight starters from last year's squad which was honored as the ninth-improved team in the country by Somis Sports after posting its winningest season in 21 years with a record of 8-10-1. The Great Danes, who regularly fielded nine or 10 freshmen and sophomores at the same time, earned their first Division I postseason berth by finishing fifth in the America East standings.

A league-best four players that garnered all-conference laurels last season in forward Chelsea DeVerna, who was also the America East rookie of the year, midfielders Maggie DeVerna and Rebecca Lee as well as defender Casey Marks are among the returnees. Head coach Mary-Frances Monroe's newcomers, which consist of five freshmen and two transfers, include five student-athletes who have earned all-state recognition and two who were named NSCAA/adidas All-Region II selections.

The top six teams in the conference will advance to the America East Championship. All of the matches in the conference's postseason tournament will be played at the higher seed, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

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2010 America East Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Boston University (8), 64 points; 2. Stony Brook (1), 52 points; 3. Binghamton 47 points; 4. UAlbany 44 points; 5. Maine 37 points; 6. New Hampshire 29 points; 7. Hartford 25 points; 8. Vermont 15 points; 9. UMBC 11 points.

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Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy announced on Tuesday, Aug. 17 that Kristin Shaw has been promoted to the position of associate head coach.

Shaw, who holds a NSCAA National License and a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma, has served as Mary-Frances Monroe's top assistant for the past four seasons. She was a member of the 2009 America East Conference Co-Coaching Staff of the Year after helping guide the squad to its winningest campaign in 21 seasons with an 8-10-1 record. After recording just 12 victories in a seven-year span, the Great Danes have won 21 matches in four years and have produced two conference rookie of the year winners, four all-conference players and seven all-rookie selections with Shaw on the sidelines.

In addition to her responsibilities at UAlbany, Shaw has been an administrator and coach for several youth level programs. She is currently on the Region I Girls' Olympic Development program staff, the Eastern New York North Girls' Olympic Development staff and serves as the director for the Guilderland Soccer Club's Advanced Development Program. Shaw also coached the Colorado Springs Premier girls' soccer teams from 2004 to 2006, the Guilderland Soccer Club's U-11 girls' team in 2007-08 and the program's U-14 and U-12 girls' programs in 2008-09. As a player, she helped lead the New England Mutiny to the 2007 Women's Premier Soccer League Finals and played with the Colorado Springs Sabers in 2006.

Shaw graduated from the University of Washington, where she lettered in soccer, with a bachelor's degree in English in 2000. She received her master's degree in finance from the University of Colorado in 2004.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information