LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference released its 2024 PSAC Women's Soccer Coaches Preseason Polls on Tuesday afternoon, and Gannon has been voted as the preseason favorite in the Western Division.
 
Gannon received six first-place votes, while No. 2 Seton Hill and No. 3 Slippery Rock each got one first-place vote. They are followed respectively by IUP, Edinboro, California, Clarion, and Pitt-Johnstown. This marks back-to-back seasons that Gannon has been picked first on the PSAC West side.
 
Gannon head coach Colin Petersen enters his 23rd season at the helm of the Golden Knight program. The 2023 season saw Petersen hit the 200-win milestone mark in his squad's 3-1 come-from-behind victory against Seton Hill on Oct. 28.
 
"I don't really know how I feel about rankings," Petersen said of being the preseason favorite. "Every year is different. It doesn't matter. You can't go off last year; last year is in the past. We must move forward. I appreciate the votes, but it also puts a target on our backs."
 
Gannon welcomes back several key players, including All-America honorees Grace Emanuel (Erie, Pa./McDowell) and Brooklyn Respecki (McKean, Pa./General McLane), All-Atlantic Region goalie Morgan Sinan (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley), and All-PSAC selections Ella Fadale (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport), Hannah Shepard (Erie, Pa./McDowell), and Gabby Boden (Butler, Pa./Butler), among others.
 
The United Soccer Coaches selected Gannon as the No. 5 team in the nation in the 2024 Division II preseason poll.
 
The Golden Knights ended their 2023 season with a 17-5-3 record and placed second in the PSAC West a 13-2-1 mark. The 17 wins were the second highest in school history.
 
In the PSAC Tournament final four at Kutztown, the Golden Knights went up against the No. 1 East-seeded Golden Bears. Gannon earned a 2-0 shutout against the tournament hosts and advanced to the PSAC Championship before falling short of its first conference crown against West Chester, 2-1.
 
After being selected as the No. 4 seed in the Atlantic Region, the Golden Knights opened their NCAA tournament appearance against Mercyhurst, defeating the Lakers 1-0 to advance to the Sweet 16.
 
The Golden Knights went on to face a hot Charleston team, which defeated Gannon 4-1 earlier in the season and then won its first MEC Championship. Gannon cruised to a 3-1 victory this time while handing Charleston its first loss of the season.
 
Gannon's dream season continued in the regional title game against two-time PSAC champion West Chester in a shootout drama. Angela Vandamia's clinching penalty kick advanced the Golden Knights to the Elite Eight.
 
The Golden Knights saw their storybook season end when Adelphi scored the lone goal of the Elite Eight match with 4:35 remaining and escaped Rockwell Field with a 1-0 victory. 
 
Gannon opens the 2024 season on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 3 p.m. at the Kutztown Invitational against Charleston. The Golden Knights conclude play in the KU Invitational when they meet Concord on Saturday, Sept. 7, with opening kickoff slated for noon.
 
Gannon will host its home/PSAC opener against Edinboro on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. at McConnell Family Stadium.
 
PSAC WOMEN'S SOCCER COACHES PRESEASON POLLS

Western Division
1. Gannon (6)
2. Seton Hill (1)
3. Slippery Rock (1)
4. IUP
5. Edinboro
6. California
7. Clarion
8. Pitt-Johnstown
 
Eastern Division
1. West Chester (5)
2. Kutztown (3)
3. East Stroudsburg
4. Bloomsburg
5. Shepherd (1)
6. Millersville
7. Lock Haven
8. Shippensburg
9. Mansfield