League Coaches Also Select Preseason All-Conference Team

 

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG has been chosen as the preseason favorite to win the Southern Conference women’s soccer championship in 2010 in a vote conducted among the league’s head coaches. The group also selected an 11-player preseason all-conference team.

 

The Spartans are looking for their fifth consecutive SoCon regular season crown, which would equal the longest such streak in league history. UNCG earned 9-of-12 first-place votes and 119 total points to lead the balloting.

 

Coach Eddie Radwanski’s squad claims four members of the preseason all-conference team, including 2009 Co-Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year Tabitha Padgett at forward. Joining Padgett on the squad are midfielders Jenn Partenheimer and Nicole Danford as well as defender Cat Barnekow.

 

Samford, which tied for second in the regular season a year ago, was predicted to finish as runner-up again in 2010 while capturing a pair of first-place nods. The Bulldogs are led by preseason all-conference goalkeeper Alyssa Whitehead who led the country in goals against average in 2009, surrendering 0.315 goals per match.

 

Coming in third place in the preseason poll was College of Charleston with 95 total points. Under the direction of new head coach Christian Michner, the Cougars boast senior defender Annie Pease on the preseason all-league team.

 

Davidson, the 2009 SoCon Tournament champion, claimed the final first-place vote and 93 total points to earn the fourth slot in the preseason. Midfielder Allison Drutchas earned preseason All-SoCon accolades, along with defender Amanda Flink, the MVP of last season’s conference tournament.

 

Elon (85 points) grabbed the fifth spot and was followed by Furman (71), Western Carolina (57) and Appalachian State (49) in the sixth through eighth positions, respectively. Chattanooga (36), The Citadel (34), Wofford (31) and Georgia Southern (15) closed out the poll.

 

Other individuals named to the preseason all-conference team included forwards Donna-Kay Henry (Chattanooga) and Martha Hall (Furman) along with defender Claire O’Keeffe (Elon).

 

Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team or players in the balloting.

 

The 2010 regular season begins on Friday, August 20 with nine of the conference’s 12 teams in action. The 2010 SoCon Women’s Soccer Championship will feature the top eight teams in the final regular season standings with the final four facing off in Cullowhee, N.C. on Nov. 5 and 7.

 

2010 Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1. UNCG (9)                                        119

2. Samford (2)                                    107

3. College of Charleston                      95

4. Davidson (1)                                    93

5. Elon                                                85

6. Furman                                            71

7. Western Carolina                              57

8. Appalachian State                            49

9. Chattanooga                                    36

10. The Citadel                                    34

11. Wofford                                        31

12. Georgia Southern                           15

 

() denotes first-place votes

 

2010 Women’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team

F       Tabitha Padgett, UNCG

F       Donna-Kay Henry, Chattanooga

F       Martha Hall, Furman

MF    Jenn Partenheimer, UNCG

MF    Nicole Danford, UNCG

MF    Allison Drutchas, Davidson

D       Claire O’Keeffe, Elon

D       Cat Barnekow, UNCG

D       Annie Pease, College of Charleston

D       Amanda Flink, Davidson

GK    Alyssa Whitehead, Samford