Kats No. 4/6 in Southland Preseason Polls
8/14/2013 4:43:00 PM | Soccer
The Sam Houston women's soccer team has been tabbed to finish sixth in the 2013 Southland Conference women's soccer race according to the annual preseason poll of the league's head coaches. The Southland sports information directors picked the Kats fourth.
Sam Houston State received 92 points in the coaches' poll and 106 points in the SID poll. The Bearkats return six starters to a team that finished fifth last season with a 4-3-1 league record and 7-11-1 overall mark.
First-team Preseason All-Southland selection Katie Ferrara will lead the Sam Houston offense this season after leading the Bearkats in scoring last year with four goals, all of which came in conference play. The sophomore was the Kats only selection to the preseason all-league team.
Stephen F. Austin has been picked to win the 2013 Southland Conference soccer regular-season championship. The Ladyjacks are coming off a season in which they posted an unblemished 8-0-0 conference record and finished 17-4-0 overall, which set a school record for wins in a single season.
Lamar, which reached last season's championship match against the Ladyjacks, was picked second by both the coaches and SIDs and received two first-place votes from the coaches and one from the SIDs. The Lady Cardinals finished 11-9-1 last season with a 6-2-0 record in conference play to finish second. Lamar received 127 total points from the coaches and 130 from SIDs.
Oral Roberts, which finished fourth last season with a 5-2-1 conference mark and a 12-7-2 overall record, was tabbed third by the coaches and SIDs. The Golden Eagles received 118 points from the coaches and 116 points from the SIDs, including the final SID first-place nod.
Southeastern Louisiana, which was picked fourth by the coaches and sixth by the SIDs, is coming off a third-place finish in league play with a 5-2-1 mark and a 12-7-1 overall record. The Lady Lions return six starters from last year's team including sophomore forward Kayla Vera.
New to the Southland this season is Houston Baptist, which was tabbed fifth in each poll. The Huskies earned 95 total points from the coaches and 91 from the SIDs. HBU returns eight starters to a team that finished 10-7-3 overall last season.
McNeese State was selected seventh by both the coaches and SIDs after the Cowgirls finished last season in sixth place with a 3-5-0 conference record. The Cowgirls return five starters, including junior midfielder Haley Lyons, who was one of the team leaders with five goals in 2012.
Coming in eighth in both polls was Northwestern State. The Lady Demons return 10 starters from a team that finished eighth a year ago with a 1-5-1 conference record. The Lady Demons will be led by junior defender Jackie Strug, who recorded three goals while anchoring the Northwestern defense which posted five shutouts last year.
Central Arkansas was slated to finish ninth by both the coaches and tied with the Lady Demons for eighth according to the SIDs. The Bears are seeking to earn their first trip to the conference tournament after finishing last year with a 2-4-1 conference record and in seventh place.
Coaches Poll
Rk. Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Stephen F. Austin (11) 143
2. Lamar (2) 127
3. Oral Roberts 118
4. Southeastern Louisiana 101
5. Houston Baptist 95
6. Sam Houston State 92
7. McNeese State 77
8. Northwestern State 67
9. Central Arkansas 65
10t. Abilene Christian 37
10t. Nicholls 37
12. UIW 30
13. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 25
SID Poll
Rk. Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Stephen F. Austin (11) 143
2. Lamar (1) 130
3. Oral Roberts (1) 116
4. Sam Houston State 106
5. Houston Baptist 91
6. Southeastern Louisiana 88
7. McNeese State 79
8t. Central Arkansas 69
8t. Northwestern State 69
10. UIW 37
11. Abilene Christian 35
12. Nicholls 31
13. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 20
