Bearkat 7th in Southland preseason soccer poll
8/12/2009 8:15:00 AM | Soccer
Sam Houston State has been tabbed to place seventh and Texas State has been dubbed the pre-season favorite in the annual Southland Conference head coaches' women's soccer preseason poll announced Tuesday by the Southland league office.
The Bobcats received eight first-place votes from the coaches to earn the top spot. Following Texas State in the predictions for the 2009 league soccer race are Stephen F. Austin, UTSA, Northwestern State, McNeese, Southeastern Louisiana, Sam Houston, Lamar, Central Arkansas and Nicholls.
"Obviously, our team believes we're going to finish higher this year," SHSU head coach Tom Brown said. "Although we have a young squad this year, we have a solid corps of returning players and a lot of talent in the group of newcomers. We're going to be much more athletic this season."
The Bearkats rolled up a 9-7 record, the first winning mark in the six-year history of the soccer program. The 2008 team set school records for longest winning streak (7), consecutive shutouts (7) and fewest goals allowed (17).
Brown will combine 12 returning letter winners and two red-shirts with 11 freshmen and two junior college transfers this fall. At the top of the list of returning letter winners is goalkeeper Jenny Pence. A two-year starter, the junior holds the Sam Houston career record for shutouts (11) and goals against average (1.51).
Junior Nicolle Watkins and sophomore Deanna Long will figure in a restructuring of the back line. Sophomore Britni Martin brings athleticism to the midfield. Sophomore Natalie Pantel will contribute up top.
Seniors Alison Oakland and Ashley Simmons and juniors Debbie Campbell, April Lozano, Kelley Sikinger and Ashley Simmons will provide key leadership. Also back are sophomores Neddy Garcia, Natalie Pantel and Kate Wesneski and redshirts Michelle McCullough and Meredith Norman.
Brown believes the newcomers address key issues necessary to continuing the program's progress to the top level of the Southland Conference.
"We will be a more athletic team this year and be better on the ball," Brown said. "Obviously, we'll have some young mistakes. But the youngsters will overcome those mistakes with their athleticism, effort and intensity. We have some newcomers who can impact us and move us forward."
A key addition for the Bearkats will be junior college transfers Alex Clifton and Adriana Vasquez bring solid credentials from championship programs in California. Among the freshmen likely to make an impact this fall include Hillary Ackerman, Kayla Anderson and Lindsay Posner in the back, Kirby Zak and Paige Rodriguez in midfield and Shelby Grissett, Jordan Cherry and Haley Rohlmeier in the front.
The preseason favorite Bobcats are coming off their league-leading fourth NCAA tournament appearance. Texas State returns most of its 2008 regular-season and tournament championship team intact. Seven all-conference and 18 letterwinners return, including freshman of the year Erica Michaud and league tournament most valuable player Lauren Lewis.
Stephen F. Austin returns six starters and 12 letterwinners from a squad just two years removed from its last conference tournament crown and regular-season title. Close behind the Jacks, in third place, UTSA returns nine starters and as many letterwinners from a 2008 squad that reached the conference tournament semifinals. UTSA has reached the semifinals in each of the last three seasons.
Northwestern State received 61 points in the coaches' poll . The Demons have posted seven consecutive conference tournament appearances.
McNeese State is fourth in the coaches' poll with 61 points, returning 13 letterwinners and five starters. Southeastern Louisiana brings back seven starters and nine letterwinners from a 2008 team that narrowly missed qualifying for its eighth league tournament finals match.
The 2009 Southland soccer season officially begins Aug. 21 with conference play beginning Oct. 2. The conference tournament will be held at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex in Natchitoches, La., Nov. 5-8. Sam Houston State opens the regular season with a road match at Oklahoma Sunday Aug. 23. The Bearkats will scrimmage Sunday night at 7 p.m. against a junior college opponent.
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Coaches Preseason Poll |
|
|
1. Texas State (8) |
89 |
|
2. Stephen F. Austin (1) |
79 |
|
3. UTSA |
69 |
|
4. Northwestern State (1) |
61 |
|
4. McNeese State |
61 |
|
6. Southeastern Louisiana |
55 |
|
7. Lamar |
39 |
|
7. Sam Houston State |
39 |
|
9. Central Arkansas |
26 |
|
10. Nicholls |
20 |
