Widener's women's soccer team has been picked to finish tied for third in the Commonwealth Conference based on a vote by the league's coaches.

The Pride get a major boost from senior forward Caryinna Yenchak (Ashley, PA).  She ended last season sixth in the conference with 23 points, tied for eighth with eight goals and fifth with seven assists.  A tremendous four-year player, she enters this season fourth in school history with 24 goals, tied for fourth with 19 assists and fifth with 67 points.

Junior forward Brittany Balentine (Medford, NJ) last year was named second team all-conference.  She closed third in the league with 28 points, third with 11 goals, third with four game-winning goals and tied for sixth with six assists.  Balentine has amassed an astounding seven game-winning goals in just two years.

Senior defender Jessie Furia (Springfield, PA) has been tabbed second team all-league each of the last two years.  She leads one of the top defenses in the conference, helping Widener last year end fourth with a 1.29 goals against average.  This included five shutouts and 13 games permitting one goal or fewer.

The Pride (13-4-3, 3-3-1 CC) last season notched double figures in victories a fifth straight year and were just two wins shy of matching the school record from 1995.  This was after beginning 10-1-1, matching the 1995 squad for the best record after 12 games.

Messiah was picked to win the conference.

Widener opens its season Wednesday, September 1 at Immaculata, beginning at 4:00 pm.

Commonwealth Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Poll

1.   Messiah                 49 pts. (7)
2.   Arcadia                  43 pts. (1)
3.   Widener               33 pts.
3.   Elizabethtown        33 pts.
5.   Lebanon Valley      25 pts.
6.   Lycoming              19 pts.
7.   Albright                 13 pts.
8.   Alvernia                  9 pts.

(first-place votes in parentheses)