Carson-Newman Picked to Finish Second in SAC Preseason Women's Soccer Poll
ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Carson-Newman women's soccer team, the two-time defending conference and tournament champions, is picked to finish second in the SAC in a vote of the league's head coaches, conference officials announced Thursday.
ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Carson-Newman women's soccer team, the two-time defending conference and tournament champions, is picked to finish second in the SAC in a vote of the league's head coaches, conference officials announced Thursday.
The Lady Eagles, who posted a 20-3-1 record last season and finished the year ranked fifth in the nation after reaching the Elite Eight for the third time in school history, received two first-place votes and 79 total points.
Tusculum is the overwhelming favorite to capture the 2010 SAC title. The Pioneers, who finished second in the SAC last season after going 15-5-3 and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, received seven first-place votes and 97 out of a possible 100 points.
Wingate is picked to finish third with 75 total points.
Lenoir-Rhyne is the pick for fourth place. The Bears, who advanced to the 2009 Food Lion SAC Tournament championship, received one first-place vote and 67 total points.
Newberry was close behind with 65 total points for fifth place.
Catawba is the pick for sixth place with 61 total points.
Lincoln Memorial is seventh in the poll. The Railsplitters received 41 points.
Just three points separated the final three teams, with Brevard getting the edge for eighth with 23 points, while first-year conference member Anderson University was next with 22 points. Mars Hill College rounds out the poll with 20 points.
The Lady Eagles open the 2010 season on Sept. 3 against Pfeiffer in Charlotte, N.C.
The league's top eight teams will advance to the 2010 Food Lion SAC Women's Soccer Tournament. Quarterfinal play will be Tuesday, Nov. 2 on campus sites, with winners advancing to the semifinals at the Manchester Meadows soccer stadium in Rock Hill, S.C., Friday, Nov. 5, with the finals on Sunday, Nov. 7.
2010 SAC
WOMEN'S SOCCER COACHES POLL
Pl School Pts.
1. Tusculum (7) 97
2. Carson-Newman (2) 79
3. Wingate 75
4. Lenoir-Rhyne (1) 67
5. Newberry 65
6. Catawba 61
7. Lincoln Memorial 41
8. Brevard 23
9. Anderson 22
10. Mars Hill 20
(First place votes in parenthesis)
