SEATTLE, Wash.—The Barry Buccaneers are picked third in the BennttRank Preseason women’s soccer poll released this week.
The Bucs, regular season champions of the Sunshine State Conference, are one of four SSC schools ranked in the top six in the country in the poll. The Rollins Tars, the SSC tournament champs, are picked first, while the Tampa Spartans clock in at number four and the Florida Tech Panthers check in at number six.
Barry was the biggest mover in the women’s poll from the end of last season. The Bucs finished 2013 at number 16, making a jump of 13 spots in the preseason poll this year.
Outlook from BennettRank: A balanced and experience side returns in 2014 for Barry. The Buccaneers battled teams very tough all season long but just could not quite generate enough offense to get over the hump. Defense should be a strength in 2014 with the return of junior midfielder Tamara Vuckovich. Up front, the combination of senior forward Lauren Manna, and junior midfielder Lavinia Nkomo will be looking to build off of very good 2013 seasons as they scored 18 goals between them last season. Becca Rogers, the returning SSC Defensive Player of the Year returns to give the Bucs a seasoned leader at keeper.
In addition to Rogers, the Bucs return 68 of 76 starts in the defensive third. Senior Ashley Harlan was a First-Team All-SSC pick a year ago for a unit that ranked first in the conference in goals allowed.
Offensively in addition to Manna and Nkomo, the Bucs added some impressive firepower up top. Jojo Frigerio, who red-shirted with the team last year, scored 27 goals for NJCAA juggernaut Iowa Western in 2012. Shanice Robe, a transfer from Mount St. Mary, was a two-time Skyline Conference Player of the Year after scoring 60 goals in two season with the Knights.
Scottish duo Christy Grimshaw and Amanda Traynor will look to shore up the midfield that lost starters Dominique Richardson, Chelsea Stoeckigt and Sara Karna.
| BR | Team | Last BR | CHANGE | C | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Rollins | 2 | 1 | 14 |
| 2 |  | CS Stanislaus | 4 | 2 | 11 |
| 3 |  | Barry | 16 | 13 | |
| 4 |  | Tampa | 9 | 5 | 18 |
| 5 |  | Saint Rose | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| 6 |  | Florida Tech | 11 | 5 | |
| 7 |  | American Int'l | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 |  | W Florida | 3 | -5 | 2 |
| 9 |  | Sonoma St. | 15 | 6 | |
| 10 |  | GV State | 1 | -9 | 1 |
| 11 |  | California (PA) | 8 | -3 | 12 |
| 12 |  | Western Wash. | 6 | -6 | 3 |
| 13 |  | Slippery Rock | 10 | -3 | 7 |
| 14 |  | Armstrong | 14 | 0 | |
| 15 |  | North Georgia | 17 | 2 | |
| 16 |  | Lander | 18 | 2 | |
| 17 |  | Columbus St. | 19 | 2 | |
| 18 |  | Colorado Mines | 13 | -5 | 9 |
| 19 |  | Cal St. L.A. | 27 | 8 | |
| 20 |  | Wingate | 12 | -8 | 10 |
| 21 |  | UC San Diego | 29 | 8 | |
| 22 |  | Cal St. San B'dino | 31 | 9 | 17 |
| 23 |  | Adelphi | 25 | 2 | |
| 24 |  | Seattle Pacific | 22 | -2 | 25 |
| 25 |  | Kutztown | 24 | -1 |