POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist men's and women's soccer teams, under the direction of sixh-year head coach Matt Viggiano and second-year head coach Katherine Lyn, began their preparations for the 2012 season today.

Both squads' first day began with a mandatory NCAA meeting and physicals.

The women's team is looking to repeat as MAAC Champions following a record-setting 2011 campaign in which they went 13-6-2 and made their first-ever NCAA Tournament. They return 10 starters from last season, including All-MAAC Selections Jessica Arabia (Naperville, Ill.), Rycke Guiney (Naperville, Ill.), Chelsea Botta (East Longmeadow, Mass.) and Marissa Mertens (Hicksville, N.Y.), as well as the reigning Rookie of the Year Amanda Epstein (Jericho, N.Y.). Caitlin Landsman (Burke, Va.) returns as the team's goalkeeper after posting a 0.94 goals against average last season, the lowest in program history. 

The men's team is coming off of an 8-7-5 season and a berth in the semifinals of the MAAC Tournament. A strong defensive team that posted eight shutouts in 2011 will see Josh Faga (Rochester, N.Y.) and All-Rookie team honoree Dylan Lee (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) lead the back third. Up front, three-time All-MAAC honoree Stephan Brossard (Port Washington, N.Y.) highlights the team's returning offensive weapons. With the loss of Krystian Witkowski to the MLS, Coach Viggiano has assembled a strong set of midfield and offensive reinforcements for the 2012 season     

Each team's opening game is less than two weeks away, as the women open on Tuesday, Aug. 21 at home versus Wagner and the men on Friday, Aug. 24 versus UC-Riverside.