PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The University of Southern Maine women’s soccer team was predicted to win its third consecutive Little East Conference (LEC) championship, according to the results of the 2024 LEC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Huskies totaled 62 points and received six first-place votes.
 
Southern Maine posted an overall record of 16-2-4 last season on its way to repeating as LEC regular season and tournament champion. The Huskies were 6-0-2 in league play during the regular season before downing University of Massachusetts Boston and Western Connecticut State University by identical 3-0 finals in the LEC championship tournament. The Huskies then defeated 10th-ranked Rowan University to record their first-ever NCAA tournament victory before falling to 14th-ranked Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the regional final.
 
WestConn was picked to finish second with 59 points and the remaining three first-place votes. The Wolves, who have played for the LEC tournament title in each of the last eight seasons and recorded five tournament wins in that stretch, posted an overall record of 10-8-4 a year ago while finishing as the runner-up to USM in race for the LEC regular season and tournament titles.
 
UMass Boston (45 points) edged out Keene State College (44 points) for third in the annual preseason ranking. Rhode Island College (34 points) and Eastern Connecticut State University (33 points) were also separated by a single point, and round out the projected six-team LEC tournament field.
 
2024 LEC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll
 
Institution - Points (First Place Votes)
1. Southern Maine - 62 (6)
2. Western Connecticut - 59 (3)
3. UMass Boston - 45
4. Keene State - 44
5. Rhode Island College - 34
6. Eastern Connecticut - 33
7. UMass Dartmouth - 19
8. Vermont State Castleton - 16
9. Plymouth State - 12
 
NOTE: Head coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team.