Catawba Tabbed Preseason Favorite in SAC Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll; Preseason All-Conference Announced
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Catawba was voted as the favorites in the 2024 South Atlantic Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll as announced by the league this morning. Catawba earned 119 points and nine of the 12 first-place votes by the league coaches.
Catawba finished second in the conference a year ago with a 10-1 mark in SAC play and a 19-3-1 overall record. Catawba earned the No. 2 seed in the Southeast Region and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Lenoir-Rhyne.
The Bears were picked to finish second after sweeping the Regular Season and Conference Tournament crowns in 2023. LR hasn't lost a SAC game since Oct. 30, 2021, a span of 23 games. The Bears advanced to the National Quarterfinal last year before dropping a one-goal contest to Florida Tech.
Wingate was picked to finish third after finishing in that same spot a season ago. The Bulldogs were 10-2 in the conference and 14-4-2 while advancing to the NCAA Tournament. Wingate was the No. 6 seed but fell to North Georgia in PKs in the First Round of NCAA postseason play.
Carson-Newman and Anderson each received 87 points in the poll to tie for fourth. Anderson went 6-3-2 last year with 20 points while Carson-Newman was 5-4-2 with 17 points.
Lincoln Memorial earned 68 points in the poll to earn the No. 6 spot, five points ahead of Limestone who was voted seventh. Mars Hill was tabbed to finish eighth and Newberry ninth. The poll is rounded out by Tusculum, Coker and Emory & Henry.
In addition to the Coaches' Poll, the 2024 Preseason All-Conference teams were announced.
The 2024 SAC Championship will take place November 4, 10 and 12 with the Semifinals and Championship played at the Matthews Sportsplex.
2024 SAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
|
Rank |
School (First Place Votes) |
Score |
|
1. |
Catawba (9) |
119 |
|
2. |
Lenoir-Rhyne (3) |
109 |
|
3. |
Wingate |
102 |
|
t-4. |
Carson-Newman |
87 |
|
t-4. |
Anderson |
87 |
|
6. |
Lincoln Memorial |
68 |
|
7. |
Limestone |
63 |
|
8. |
Mars Hill |
49 |
|
9. |
Newberry |
34 |
|
10. |
Tusculum |
32 |
|
11. |
Coker |
30 |
|
12. |
Emory & Henry |
12 |
2024 SAC Women's Soccer Preseason All-Conference
First Team
F – Bree Ehmer, Catawba
F – Helen Summerell, Catawba
F – Sydney Grant, Tusculum
F – Kaitlyn Gregory, Anderson
MF – Evan O'Leary, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Manu Baptista Felipe, Wingate
MF – Maria Rayburn, Catawba
MF - Carola Busquets, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Sascha Larsen, Wingate
D – Alexah Fite, Catawba
D – Meggie Powell, Anderson
D - Kylie Swanson, Anderson
GK – Camryn Miller, Mars Hill
Second Team
F – Lucie Bertrand, Limestone
F – Samantha Swinson, Mars Hill
F – Yasmin Cowley, Wingate
F – Leanna Guion, Anderson
MF – Emerson Talley, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Felicia Frick, Carson-Newman
MF – Camryn Woods, Anderson
MF – Katherine Ensalaco, Wingate
D – Lillie Rusher, Catawba
D – Kelly Havens, Catawba
D – Laura Holt, Wingate
D – Anna Schuller, Lenoir-Rhyne
GK – Bente Latenstein, Lincoln Memorial
Third Team
F – Kara Gavaghan, Lenoir-Rhyne
F – Morgan Delair, Catawba
F – Krista Nielsen, Carson-Newman
F – Anita Arnadottir, Carson-Newman
MF – Sophia Husted, Wingate
MF – Alba Delgado, Carson-Newman
MF – Selina Jud, Carson-Newman
MF – Sharon Mayes, Catawba
D – Kate Casey, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Marja Enste, Tusculum
D – Carly Keuffer, Anderson
D – Brynn Stokes, Tusculum
GK – Haley Faucette, Wingate