After being unranked at the start of the 2023 season, the College of New Jersey women’s soccer team is now back in a familiar spot and among the best in the country.
The Lions, who had a 16-3-1 record last season and reached the NCAA Tournament, begin the year ranked 24th.
After being absent from the rankings for the first time in many years at the beginning of the season, TCNJ reached 13th place.
Reigning national champion California Lutheran leads the preseason poll.
TCNJ is the only NJAC school in the rankings, as Montclair State and Rowan receive votes.
Johns Hopkins, ranked 17th, is the only ranked team on the Lions’ schedule. TCNJ opens the season on August 30 at William Smith College with the Stand on Their Shoulders Invitational.
They will open with Washington and Lee and face Plattsburgh State on August 31.
TCNJ will welcome 15 newcomers and will be bolstered by the return of Victoria D’Imperio, an NJAC player and top scorer with 20 goals and seven assists.
DeGennaro named FCS Preseason All-America
Nick DeGennaro (Hun) is a wide receiver from Richmond who caught 71 passes for 904 yards last season and was selected to the All-CAA second team.
He is a redshirt senior this season.
Auerbach expands tasks
Nicole Auerbach, who interned at the Trentonian while attending Princeton Day School, will join NBC Sports as a leading college football and basketball insider and contribute to television coverage.
Auerbach, who was named Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association, also appears on the Big Ten Network’s College Countdown. She covered the Paris Olympics for The Athletic.
Garwo III on the way to Nevada
Pat Garwo III (Conwell-Egan) graduated from Boston College after an outstanding career with the Eagles and will spend his final season at the University of Nevada.
Last season he rushed for 1,000 yards and was selected to the All-ACC second team.
At Conwell-Egan, he set a new season record with 1,922 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Kutztown Preseason PSAC East Favorite
Kutztown, which reached the Division II semifinals in 2023, is the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s preseason favorite to win the East Division this fall.
The Bears, ranked 10th in the AFCA preseason poll, are primarily supported by local players Mekhi Gibson (Ewing), Kyle Stokes (Ewing), Drew Hensor (Pennsbury) and Sincere Thomas (Truman).
Gibson had two rushing touchdowns, but was second on the team with 32 receptions for 676 yards and six touchdowns.
Thomas caught nine passes and scored two touchdowns. Hensor had 56 tackles, Stokes three.
All four can be relied upon this season.
Lawrenceville Star is one of Rutgers’ hockey captains
Bridy Molyneaux, who was an All-Trentonian player in Lawrenceville, was named one of the Scarlet Knights’ four captains this season
Molyneaux joins Guillermina Causarano and Sophia Howard, who return for their third season as team captains. Paulina Niklaus will also serve as captain.
Molyneaux enters the fall season as a redshirt senior with 75 games of experience at RU. The former Big Red star has scored 18 goals (including eight game-winners) and two assists in 45 games as a forward.
“We are so happy to have Sophia and Bridy back for another year. They are incredible players, leaders and people. Having their experience back will make a huge difference for our team this year,” head coach Meredith Civico said in a press release. “Guillermina is an incredible person and athlete, she works super hard. Paulina is so experienced and so mature, she has an incredible way of leading on the field. This group of captains we have this year is truly incredible. It’s a strong and diverse group.”
Rutgers opens the season on September 1st at 12pm at home against Vermont
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