GREENSBORO, NC – UNC Greensboro has been picked to win the Southern Conference women’s soccer regular season in the preseason coaches’ poll.
The Spartans took four first-place votes out of a possible nine. Furman and Western Carolina finished only seven points behind the Spartans. Western Carolina grabbed three first-place votes while Furman received one. College of Charleston also received one first-place vote and finished in fourth. Davidson rounded out the top with fifth place.
UNCG finished third in the SoCon last season and reached the semifinals in the SoCon Tournament. The Spartans return seven starters and 17 total players from the 2005-06 squad which finished 11-6-1.
College of Charleston and UNCG led the conference with three selections each to the pre-season all-conference team. UNCG seniors Shannon Donovan and Deven Beachum joined junior Jessica Patterson on the pre-season squad. Donovan, a defender from Melville, NY, is a two-time first-team All-SoCon honoree and was the 2003 Conference Rookie of the Year. Beachum is a fifth-year senior forward from Raleigh, NC. She has earned second-team All-SoCon honors each of the last two seasons.
The Spartans travel to William & Mary for their season opener this Friday. Kickoff is set for 7 pm.
AGATE
Southern Conference Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll
1. UNC Greensboro (4) 89
2. Furman (1) 82
Western Carolina (3) 82
4. College of Charleston (1) 78
5. Davidson 77
6. Elon 47
7. Chattanooga 46
8. Appalachian State 40
9. Wofford 24
10. Georgia Southern 20
11. The Citadel 10
Southern Conference Women’s Soccer Pre-season
All-League Team
F- Casey Cleary, Appalachian State
F- Teryn Schuetz, College of Charleston
F- Kristen Koehrn, Davidson
F- Deven Beachum, UNC Greensboro
MF- Dana Murphy, Appalachian State
MF- Maya Peel, Chattanooga
MF- Jessica Patterson, UNC Greensboro
D- Amanda Andrews, College of Charleston
D- Danielle Jordan, College of Charleston
D- Kate Johnson, Furman
D- Shannon Donovan, UNC Greensboro
GK-Alesha Row, Western Carolina
- UNCG -