WASHINGTON - The University of Dayton women's soccer team was chosen to finish second in the 2024 Atlantic 10 Conference's annual Preseason Poll, behind 12th-ranked Saint Louis. Additionally, Flyers Diana Benigno (MF) and Kyra Karfonta (D) were named to the 11-woman Preseason All-Conference Team.

The A-10 Preseason Poll and Preseason All-Conference team, announced Wednesday morning, a day before he season's opening slate of matches set for this upcoming Thursday, Aug. 15, are voted on by the league's head coaches.

Coming off their sixth-straight Atlantic 10 Championship and first ever Sweet 16 appearance, Saint Louis earned all 225 points and 15 first place votes after finishing last season 19-3-2 and 9-0-1 in the Atlantic 10. The Billikens defeated Indiana in the First Round and Georgetown in the Second Round before narrowly falling to No. 2 Penn State last year in their deep postseason run. 

Dayton earned the second spot on the preseason poll, tabbing 205 points. The Flyers are led by Preseason All-Conference members midfielder Diana Benigno and defender Kyra Karfonta. Benigno led the Flyers in assists on the season with six, finishing in a tie for third in the league. Benigno was named A-10 Co-Offensive Player of the Week during the season after scoring the game-tying goal at Saint Louis and registering an assist against Davidson. Karfonta registered three goals and an assist for seven total points last season and was a key member of the Dayton defense that posted 11 shutouts on the season.

The Flyers will officially kick of the program's 41st season of intercollegiate women's soccer traveling to Baltimore, Maryland, to square off against Loyola Maryland Aug. 15. The match is scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m. at the Greyhounds' Ridley Athletic Complex. CLICK HERE for ticket information.

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2024 A-10 Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
 

	School (First-Place Votes)	Points
1	Saint Louis (15)	225
2	Dayton	205
3	VCU	183
4	Massachusetts	177
5	La Salle	172
6	Duquesne	142
7	Saint Joseph's	123
8	Loyola Chicago	115
9	Rhode Island	109
10	Fordham	89
11	Richmond	77
12	St. Bonaventure	53
13	George Mason	52
14	George Washington	40
15	Davidson	38

 
2024 A-10 Women's Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team
 

Name	Class	Position	School
Emily Gaebe	SR	F	Saint Louis
Zoe Hevey	SO	F	Loyola Chicago
Hannah Sawyer	SR	F	Saint Louis
Diana Benigno	GR	MF	Dayton
Hannah Larson	R-SR	MF	Saint Louis
Bella Recinos	SR	MF	Massachusetts
Lyndsey Heckel	GR	D	Saint Louis
Kyra Karfonta	JR	D	Dayton
Hannah Peric	GR	D	Massachusetts
Sophia Stram	FY	D	Saint Louis
Emily Puricelli	GR	GK	Saint Louis