Carson-Newman picked to win 2006 SAC Women’s Soccer Title

ROCK HILL, SC - Carson-Newman College, which has advanced to the NCAA Final Four for the past two years, is the favorite to win the 2006 South Atlantic Conference women's soccer title.

The Lady Eagles received five first-place votes and 59 total points. Carson-Newman won the regular-season league title in 2003 and shared the title in 2004. The Lady Eagles advanced to the national semifinals, where they lost to Seattle Pacific, 3-2.

Carson-Newman returns plenty of standouts off that squad, placing a league-high five on the preseason All-Conference women's soccer team. Leading the way is 2004 SAC Women's Soccer Player of the Year and SAC Women's Athlete of the Year Rebecca Angus. Angus, a senior forward All-American, averaged .77 goals per match, a league-high .73 assists per match and 2.27 points per match last season. She is joined on the first team by teammates Claire Ramsdale and Erica Stegner at midfield.

Catawba College received two first-place votes and is picked to finish second with 57 points. The Catawba Indians won the regular-season title last season and return 2005 SAC Player of the Year McKenzie Burman, Catawba's lone preseason All-Conference pick. Burman led the league, averaging 1.10 goals per match and 2.43 points per match.

Tusculum College, which won the 2005 Food Lion SAC Tournament title, received the other first-place vote and had 52 total points.

The Pioneers placed five on the preseason All-Conference team, with midfielder Jennifer Dodd and defender AshleyMoreira on the first team.

Newberry College is picked to finish fourth with 36 points. Newberry placed four on the preseason All-Conference team, all first team selections. The Indians are led by forward Inga Woiwode, who was second in the SAC in 2005 in assists per match, defenders Greta Hewett and Sarah Barnes, and goalkeeper Denielle Beckerle.

Lenoir-Rhyne garnered 27 points for fifth place in the poll. Defender Tara Learn was a first team preseason All-Conference selection and one of two Bears on the team.

Wingate received 24 points for sixth place. The Bulldogs had two preseason All-Conference picks in midfielder Lisa Service on the first team and defender Megan Smith on the second team.

Mars Hill received 19 points. The Lions had three preseason All-Conference picks, including forward Jasmine Riley, the 2005 SAC Freshman of the Year, on the first team.

Presbyterian College rounds out the poll with 14 points. The Blue Hose place three members on the preseason All-Conference second team: Forwards Claire Joyce, Ginny Wolfe and defender Lindsey Leffler.

Lincoln Memorial, the newest member of the South Atlantic Conference, will not be eligible for the conference championship or awards this season.

The women's soccer season begins Thursday, August 24 with six teams in action, including preseason favorite Carson-Newman. The Food Lion South Atlantic Conference women's soccer tournament semifinals will be held at Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, NC., on Friday, October 27, with the championship match held on Sunday, October 29.

2006 South Atlantic Conference
Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Carson-Newman 59 (4)
2. Catawba 57 (3)
3. Tusculum 52 (1)
4. Newberry 36
5. Lenoir-Rhyne 27
6. Wingate 24
7. Mars Hill 19
8. Presbyterian 14
(First place votes in parenthesis)

2006 PRESEASON ALL-SAC
First Team
Forward - Rebecca Angus, Carson-Newmman
Forward - McKenzie Burman, Catawba
Forward - Jasmine Riley, Mars Hill
Forward - Inga Woiwode, Newberry
Midfielder - Claire Ramsdale, Carson-Newman
Midfielder - Lisa Service, Wingate
Midfielder - Erica Stegner, Carson-Newman
Midfielder - Jennifer Dold, Tusculum
Defender - Tara Learn, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defender - Ashley Moreira, Tusculum
Defender - Greta Hewett, Newberry
Defender - Sarah Barnes, Newberry
Goalkeeper - Danielle Beckerle, Newberry

Second Team
Forward - Vanessa Szewczuk, Lenoir-Rhyne
Forward - Claire Joyce, Presbyterian
Forward - Ginny Wolfe, Presbyterian
Forward - Becky Carreiro, Tusculum
Midfielder - Alicia Blaha, Mars Hill
Midfielder - Tara Carver, Mars Hill
Midfielder - Brittany Moore, Carson-Newman
Midfielder - Devon wilt, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defender - Nicole Ferris, Tusculum
Defender - Megan Smith, Wingate
Defender - Stacey Thomas, Carson-Newman
Defender - Lindsey Leffler, Presbyterian
Goalkeeper - Whitney Waldrop, Tusculum