Molloy Tops ECC Womens Soccer Preseason Poll as Miranto and Keenan Earn Player of the Year Honors

COLONIA, N.J. – The road to the 2025 ECC Women’s Soccer Championship is already shaping up to be a battle between familiar rivals. Molloy and Daemen, last year’s champions and runner-ups, headline this year’s Preseason Poll, separated by just four points. Adding to the intrigue, the league’s two preseason individual awards also belong to the power programs: Daemen’s Kylie Miranto was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Molloy’s Madison Keenan earned Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors. Miranto has been a consistent force since stepping onto the field for the Wildcats. A former ECC Third-Team All-Conference selection as a freshman and a D2CCA All-America honoree as a sophomore, she elevated her game even further in 2024, claiming the ECC Offensive Player of the Year award. The North Tonawanda, N.Y., native led the league with 30 points and tied for the lead in goals (12), while also ranking among the top five in both game-winning goals (5) and assists (5). Simply put, Miranto has been the centerpiece of Daemen’s attack — and shows no signs of slowing down. Keenan, meanwhile, has quickly become a defensive anchor for Molloy. The sophomore from Selden, N.Y., guided the Lions to seven shutouts last fall, including a dominant postseason stretch where Molloy conceded just two goals in ECC Championship play. Her presence doesn’t stop at the back line either — Keenan contributed five assists, tying for fourth in the conference, showcasing her ability to turn strong defending into scoring opportunities. Unsurprisingly, their teams sit atop the preseason poll. Molloy claimed the No. 1 spot with 58 points and seven first-place votes after a season in which the Lions dominated nearly every category: leading the ECC in goals per game, goals allowed per game, and scoring margin. They were untouchable at home (8-0) and perfect in conference play (7-0), making them the standard for the rest of the league. Daemen followed closely with 54 points in second place. After reaching the conference final in 2024, the Wildcats enter this year hungry for revenge. With a combined conference record of 12-2-1 over the last two seasons and Miranto leading the charge, Daemen remains one of the most dangerous teams in the ECC. Queens picked up the only other first-place vote, finishing third with 47 points. The Knights have shown steady growth, going 10-7-1 in 2024 and reaching the postseason in back-to-back years, positioning themselves as a dark horse contender. Rounding out the poll, Mercy placed fourth with 45 points, followed by Roberts Wesleyan (33), St. Thomas Aquinas (23), D’Youville (20), and Staten Island (8). 2025 ECC Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll 1. Molloy - 58 points (7 first-place votes) 2. Daemen - 54 points 3. Queens - 47 points (1 first-place vote) 4. Mercy - 45 points 5. Roberts Wesleyan - 33 points 6. St. Thomas Aquinas - 23 points 7. D'Youville - 20 points 8. Staten Island - 8 points  
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