Women's Soccer 2025 Preseason Poll

Women's Soccer Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Women's Soccer Team Chosen Preseason Favorite in PSAC West

LOCK HAVEN, Pa.  -- Colin Petersen has enjoyed great success at Gannon, first as a player and then as coach, of the Gannon women's soccer team. The veteran coach has guided the Golden Knights to eight NCAA Tournament appearances, including back-to-back visits to the Sweet 16.

But one thing has eluded Petersen – a PSAC championship. He owns 221 career victories after leading Gannon to a 16-2-4 record a year ago, but not one of those has been in the PSAC Championship game.

If the league's coaches are correct, Petersen and his Golden Knights will be vying for their first-ever conference crown this year. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference today announced its 2025 PSAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll with Gannon voted basically an unanimous favorite in the Western Division.

Gannon received seven of a possible eight first place votes, but since Petersen can't vote for his own team, the remaining first place vote went to Slippery Rock. The Golden Knights were the Western Division regular season champions last year posting a 10-0-4 record to edge Indiana (Pa.) (9-1-4) for first place.

The Golden Knights hosted last year's PSAC Final Four but were upset by Kutztown, 3-2, in the semifinals. They were still selected to host a pod of the NCAA Div. II Atlantic Regional. With wins over Frostburg State and Kutztown they reached the Sweet 16 for the second straight year before falling to PSAC champion Shepherd, 1-0, in the regional championship game. The Golden Knights ended the year at 16-2-4.

Slippery Rock (9-6-4), the third-place team in the division a year ago, was picked to finish second while Indiana (Pa.) was third (11-3-4). Seton Hill (5-6-6) is fourth and Pitt-Johnstown (8-7-2) rounds out the top five. The final three spots belong to California (Pa.) (4-12-2), Edinboro (5-7-4) and Clarion (2-14-1).

Defending PSAC champion Shepherd holds down the top spot in the Eastern Division after reaching the Elite Eight and finishing at 18-2-4. The Rams earned seven of nine first-place votes.
 
West Chester (10-7-1) was picked to finish second and Kutztown (12-5-6) was third. Both teams received one first place vote. Bloomsburg (9-5-5) and East Stroudsburg (8-3-7) complete the top five, with the second half of the Eastern Division poll showing Millersville (6-6-5), Shippensburg (5-8-5), Lock Haven (3-11-4) and Mansfield (0-15-3).
 
Gannon opens the 2025 campaign on Thursday, September 4 playing at Charleston (WV). The Golden Knights debut at home on Saturday, September 13 hosting California (Pa.). The match is also their PSAC West opener.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS RANKED 10TH IN UNITED SOCCER COACHES PRESEASON POLL
Gannon finished the 2024 season ranked tenth in the final United Soccer Coaches Div. II Top 25. That's also where Gannon begins the 2025 campaign. A year ago the Golden Knights entered the season ranked fifth in the preseason poll after finishing fifth in the final 2023 rankings.
 
RESPECKI, EMANUEL PROVIDE PLENTY OF SCORING PUNCH
Gannon possesses an impressive one-two punch on offense in juniors Brooklyn Respecki (McKean, Pa./General McLane) and Grace Emanuel (Erie, Pa./McDowell).  A year ago Respecki led Gannon with 14 goals and 9 assists for 37 points while Emanuel was next at 16 goals and 6 assists for 32 points. Both were named to the All-PSAC West first team for the second straight year, Emanuel went on to earn first team D2CCA All-American honors and Respecki was a second team D2CCA All-American as a freshman.
 
In just two seasons the local duo has quickly climbed up the Gannon record books. Respecki has 27 goals and 25 assists for 79 points while Emanuel has 27 goals and 10 assists for 64 points.
 
TWO PSAC AWARD WINNERS RETURN
Eight Golden Knights earned All-PSAC West honors a year ago. Gannon captured two of the major postseason awards with Destinee Roberston selected the Defensive Athlete of the Year and Jessie Watkins (Bowie, Md./Bowie) named the Freshman of the Year. Watkins finished as the team's third-leading scorer with 9 goals and an assist for 19 points. Roberston proved an outstanding addition after transferring from Quincy. A speedy senior defender, she paced a defense that had more shutouts (13) than goals allowed (12).
 
Junior defender Hannah Sheperd and Morgan Sinan (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley), a graduate student who is Gannon's goalkeeper, are also returning first team All-PSAC West honorees.
 
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Players Mentioned

Grace Emanuel

#24 Grace Emanuel

M
5' 3"
Junior
Brooklyn Respecki

#7 Brooklyn Respecki

F
5' 3"
Junior
Exercise Science
Morgan Sinan

#0 Morgan Sinan

GK
5' 7"
Graduate Student
Cybersecurity
Jessie Watkins

#36 Jessie Watkins

F
5' 4"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Grace Emanuel

#24 Grace Emanuel

5' 3"
Junior
M
Brooklyn Respecki

#7 Brooklyn Respecki

5' 3"
Junior
Exercise Science
F
Morgan Sinan

#0 Morgan Sinan

5' 7"
Graduate Student
Cybersecurity
GK
Jessie Watkins

#36 Jessie Watkins

5' 4"
Sophomore
F