EAST STROUDSBURG - The East Stroudsburg University women's soccer team, coming off its first PSAC semifinal appearance since 1998, has been picked to repeat last season's second-place finish in the PSAC East in this year's coaches poll.

The Warriors return nine starters under head coach Rob Berkowitz, who was the PSAC East Coach of the Year after guiding his team to a 12-7-1 record in his first season at ESU in 2007.

ESU brings back its top eight goal scorers, including a pair of first team All-PSAC East selections in senior forward Lynda Hicks (11 goals, two assists) and senior midfielder Janel Cleffi (seven goals, three assists).

Senior forwards Dena Shleifer and Tara Takac both scored seven goals each last season, and sophomore midfielder Kailyn Buckley had three goals and led the Warriors with five assists. Senior midfielder Jennifer Buckley contributed two goals and four assists and sophomore midfielder Lindsay Foder had two goals and two assists as a freshman.

In the back, the Warriors must replace Brittany Staub, a four-time first team All-PSAC East selection and last year's PSAC East Player of the Year, and three-year starter Kaitlin Anders.

Senior Janine Turcio was the first team goalkeeper in the PSAC East and posted a 0.97 goals against average with five shutouts in her first season with the Warriors. Juniors Caitlyn Curran and Jessica Oliva are returning starters at defender.

West Chester, the defending PSAC champion and an NCAA quarterfinalist last season, is the preseason favorite in the East. The Warriors are followed by Bloomsburg, Shippensburg, Kutztown, Millersville and Mansfield.

In the West, Slippery Rock received five first place votes, with first-year PSAC member Mercyhurst garnering the other three votes for the top spot.

ESU opens the 2008 season on Saturday, August 30 against Davis & Elkins in a tournament in Concord, W.V. The Warriors will play their first four games away from home before making their debut on the new turf at Eiler-Martin Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 13 against West Chester.