SPARTANBURG, SC -- The Southern Conference women’s soccer coaches have tabbed UNC Greensboro to win the 2005 regular season championship. The coaches also selected 13 players to the preseason all-league team, including 10 all-conference picks from 2004.
The Spartans, the reigning SoCon regular season champions, received six of the 11 available first place votes, as coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team or players. Furman, the defending tournament champion, received five first place votes to come in a close second in the overall poll. College of Charleston was selected third with Davidson and Chattanooga rounding out the top five.
The women’s soccer coaches also named their preseason all-conference team. Furman led the individual honors, placing five members on the preseason all-league squad. Kat Kelly, a 2004 first-team All-SoCon selection, leads the way for the Paladins and is joined on the squad by 2003 SoCon player of the Year Andre’a Morrison and 2004 All-SoCon second team member Nicky Darling. Teammate Andie Hinshaw was dubbed by the leagues coaches as the top goalkeeper, while Erin Sanders was one of three defenders chosen.
The Spartans were well-represented on the preseason team with four UNC Greensboro players earning the nod, including 2004 SoCon Player of the Year Amy Carnell. Furman and UNCG were the only schools to have multiple players on the team.
Kristin Rhyne, who was a member of the all-conference first team in 2004, was the only Charleston player selected to the team. She was joined by a trio of lone selections in Kara Koehrn (Davidson), Diana Jallo (Chattanooga) and Mallory Bramlett (Wofford).
The women’s soccer season kicks off Thursday, August 26 when Western Carolina travels to Lewiston, NY to square off against St. Bonaventure in the Niagara Tournament. A full slate gets underway the next night, as seven SoCon teams open the regular season on Friday, August 27. The conference season opens on Sunday, September 25.
2005 Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll
1. UNC Greensboro (6) 94
2. Furman (5) 93
3. College of Charleston 80
4. Davidson 72
5. Chattanooga 70
6. Appalachian State 50
7. Western Carolina 44
8. Wofford 32
9. Elon 30
Georgia Southern 30
11. The Citadel 10
2005 Women’s Soccer Preseason All-League Team
F- Kristin Rhyne, College of Charleston
F- Diana Jallo, Chattanooga
F- Kara Koehrn, Davidson
F- Andre’a Morrison, Furman
F- Deven Beachum, UNC Greensboro
F- Amy Carnell, UNC Greensboro
MF- Nicky Darling, Furman
MF- Kat Kelly, Furman
MF- Nicollette DeLaine, UNC Greensboro
D- Erin Sanders, Furman
D- Shannon Donovan, UNC Greensboro
D- Mallory Bramlett, Wofford
GK- Andie Hinshaw, Furman