Carson-Newman Picked To Win 2007 Women’s Soccer Title

ROCK HILL, SC - Carson-Newman College, which has won the South Atlantic Conference women's soccer championship for three out of the past four years, is the favorite to win the 2007 SAC championship in a vote of the league coaches, the conference office announced today.

The Lady Eagles, who won the regular-season and Food Lion SAC Tournament titles last year, received four first-place votes and 54 total votes.

Carson-Newman placed six on the preseason All-Conference team, with midfielders Brittany Moore and Zarmena Kasparites and defender Julie Nelson named to the first team. Moore had four goals and four assists last season en route to first team All-Conference honors, while Kasparites had four goals. Nelson was also a first-team All-Conference pick last season.

Tusculum College, which edged Carson-Newman in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region Tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight last season, is picked to finish second. The Pioneers received two first-place votes and 47 total points.

Tusculum placed three on the preseason All-Conference team, with forward Kelly Barron and defender Nicole Ferris selected to the first team. In 2006, Barron ranked among the league leaders with eight goals.

Catawba College is picked to finish third with 45 points. The Indians had four selections to the preseason All-Conference team. Goalkeeper Kathleen Blake was a first team pick, after finishing second in the league last year in goals against average.

Newberry College finished fourth in the poll. The Lady Indians received two first-place votes and 41 total points.

Newberry placed five on the preseason All-Conference team, including three-time All-Conference forward Inga Woiwode. Joining Woiwode on the first team is defender Elizabeth Jones.

Lincoln Memorial University is picked to finish sixth, receiving 40 points. The Lady Railsplitters had three representatives on the preseason All-Conference team, with forward Heloisa DeOliveira and defender Camilla Verissimo on the first team. Last season, DeOliveira had 13 assists and her .81 assists per match ranked third in the nation.

Wingate University received 25 points to finish seventh in the poll. Wingate has three representatives on the preseason All-Conference team, including midfielder Lisa Service on the first team. Service was a first team All-Conference pick a year ago after recording two goals and four assists.

Lenoir-Rhyne College, under new coach Adrian Blewitt, received 19 points.

Rounding out the poll is Mars Hill with 17 points. Midfielder Caity Murnahan, the 206 SAC Freshman of the Year after recording seven goals and three assists, and forward Riley Dorsey, who also had a strong freshman campaign in 2006 with seven goals and two assists, were named to the preseason All-Conference first team.

The 2007 season opens Thursday, Aug. 23 with three matches. Lenoir-Rhyne opens on the road at Limestone, while Carson-Newman hosts King College and Tusculum entertains Milligan.

The 2007 Food Lion SAC Women's Soccer Tournament will culminate with the semifinals at the Manchester Meadows soccer stadium in Rock Hill, S.C., Friday, Nov. 2, with the finals on Sunday, Nov. 4.

2007 SAC WOMEN'S SOCCER COACHES POLL

Pl School Pts.
Carson-Newman (4) 54
Tusculum (2) 47
Catawba 45
Newberry (2) 41
Lincoln Memorial 40
Wingate 25
Lenoir-Rhyne 19
Mars Hill 17
(First place votes in parenthesis)

2007 WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON ALL-SAC

FIRST TEAM
F - Kelly Barron, Tusculum
F - Heloisa DeOliveira, Lincoln Memorial
F - Riley Dorsey, Mars Hill
F - Inga Woiwode, Newberry
MF - Brittany Moore, Carson-Newman
MF - Caity Murnahan, Mars Hill
MF - Zarmena Kasparites, Carson-Newman
MF - Lisa Service, Wingate
D - Julie Nelson, Carson-Newman
D - Camilla Verissimo, Lincoln Memorial
D - Elizabeth Jones, Newberry
D - Nicole Ferris, Tusculum
GK -Kathleen Blake, Catawba

SECOND TEAM
F - Tasha Wilhelm, Catawba
F - Madi Welch, Wingate
F - Claire Ramsdale, Carson-Newman
F - Brooke Tumblin, Newberry
MF - Mandi Butler, Newberry
MF - Juliana Povoa, Lincoln Memorial
MF - Megan Julian, Carson-Newman
MF - Jere Whitbred, Tusculum
MF - Lainey Nichols, Catawba
D - Shea Kinzer, Carson-Newman
D - Sarah Barnes, Newberry
D - Megan Smith, Wingate
D - Alyssa Schoenberg, Catawba
GK - Danielle Beckerle, Newberry