FLUSHING, N.Y. (Aug. 28, 2018) - The College of Staten Island is the top choice to win the 2018 CUNYAC Women's Soccer Championship, according to the conference's preseason coaches' poll announced Tuesday.

The Dolphins, who have won a league-best seven CUNYAC titles in their history, topped the poll with 42 points and three first-place votes.

Led by newly-appointed head coach Brittany Casares, Staten Island is coming off a season in which it finished 13-6-1 overall and 5-0-1 against CUNYAC opposition. The Dolphins eventually coasted to the conference championship, holding their opposition to just one goal and a combined total of six shots in two postseason matches.

CSI returns nearly a full arsenal (nine of 11 starters) to the pitch from 2017, as well as its Top 3 leading scorers -- junior forward Nicole Mignone, junior midfielder Victoria Sanchez and junior defender Lizbeth Aparicio.

Mignone had a team-high 20 points (8 G, 4 A) last year to earn CUNYAC All-Star honors, while Sanchez and Aparicio totaled 14 and 13 points, respectively. Aparicio also buried a pair of goals in the Dolphins' 2-0 victory in the CUNYAC Championship, en route to claiming Most Valuable Player accolades.

CCNY was a close second in the voting with 39 points and one first-place nod. John Jay (33 points) and Lehman (32 points) finished only a point apart for third and fourth. Brooklyn (29 points), York (11 points) and Medgar Evers (10 points) rounded it out.

John Jay sophomore forward Kimberly Robledo got the nod as the CUNYAC Preseason Player of the Year. In her debut season, Robledo, the 2017 CUNYAC Rookie of the Year, led the Bloodhounds and all freshmen in the league in goals (14) and points (28). She had a conference-best four game-winning goals to her credit, as well.

The 2018 CUNYAC Women's Soccer Championship will be hosted in early-November at Brooklyn College. The semifinals will be played on Wednesday, Oct. 31, with the final to follow on Saturday, Nov. 3.

2018 CUNYAC Preseason Women's Soccer Poll
1. Staten Island (Three First-Place Votes) - 42 Points
2. CCNY (One First-Place Vote) - 39 Points
3. John Jay (One First-Place Vote) - 33 Points
4. Lehman - 32 Points
5. Brooklyn (Two First-Place Votes) - 29 Points
6. York - 11 Points
7. Medgar Evers - 10 Points

CUNYAC Preseason Player of the Year: Kimberly Robledo, F, John Jay