Tusculum Picked To Win 2010 SAC Women’s Soccer Championship

ROCK HILL, SC - The Tusculum Pioneers are an overwhelming favorite to capture the 2010 SAC women's soccer championship in a vote of the league coaches, the conference office announced today.

The Pioneers, who finished second in the SAC last season, going 15-5-3 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, received seven first-place votes and 97 out of a possible 100 points.

Tusculum placed four on the preseason All-Conference team, which was also announced. Midfielder Courtney Turner, a returning All-American, and Tramika James, an All-Region selection, are both on the first team, while midfielder Michelle Meade and defender Claire Duncan, another All-Region selection in 2009, are on the second team.

Carson-Newman College, the two-time defending conference and tournament champions, is picked to finish second. The Eagles received two first-place votes and 79 total points. First-year coach Carol Bonnes will have four preseason first-team All-Conference performers on the roster.

Forward Trenna Howell is joined on the first team by midfielders Andrea Saevik and Morgan Gruenenfelder, as well as defender Melissa Morris. Howell was second in the conference in goals (13), assists (nine) and points (35). Howell was also a first team Daktronics All-Southeast Region selection and a second team NSCAA All-Southeast Region honoree. Gruenenfelder was a third-team All-American last season.

C-N finished the 2009 season ranked fifth in the nation after reaching the Elite Eight for the third time in school history and first time since 2005. The team posted a 20-3-1 overall record and won the South Atlantic Conference regular season title for the fifth time in seven years and also won the SAC Tournament title. The Lady Eagles advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the seventh straight season.

Wingate University is picked to finish third with 75 total points. The Bulldogs placed defender Megan Mastalerz on the preseason All-Conference first team, with forwards Kelly Adams and Kerstin Williams named to the second team. Adams was second in the league last season with .53 assists per match, while Williams scored nine goals.

Lenoir-Rhyne University is the pick for fourth place. The Bears, who advanced to the 2009 Food Lion SAC Tournament championship, received one first-place vote and 67 total points. Lenoir-Rhyne placed three on the preseason All-Conference first team. All-American forward Elizabeth Hawes, the 2009 SAC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, is joined on the first team by forward Laura Linehan, who had 11 goals last year, and defender Catherine Hauck.

Newberry College was close behind with 65 total points for fifth place. The Wolves placed three on the preseason All-Conference team. Goalkeeper Emily Rhoades, who had a .70 goal against average last season, is on the first team, while midfielder Amberly Fowler and defender Megan Douglas were named to the second team.

Catawba College is the pick for sixth place with 61 total points. The Catawba Indians, under first-year coach Michael Swan, placed four on the preseason All-Conference team.

Defender Alexa Baird was named to the first team, while midfielder Andrea Dunshie, defender Marissa DiMarco and goalkeeper Lindsay Webster were all named to the second team. Webster posted a 0.77 goal against average last season.

Lincoln Memorial University is seventh in the poll. The Railsplitters received 41 points.
The Railsplitters placed four on the preseason All-Conference team with midfielder Leanne Reid on the first team, while forward Becky Thompson, midfielder Sarah Taylor, and defender Raquel Abrile were all named to the second team. Thompson scored 10 goals last season.

Just three points separated the final three teams, with Brevard College getting the edge for eighth with 23 points, while first-year conference member Anderson University was next with 22 points. Mars Hill College rounds out the poll with 20 points.

Anderson did place forward Jessica Kleinburg on the preseason All-Conference second team.

The 2010 season opens Thursday, September 2 with four matches

The league's top eight teams will advance to the 2010 Food Lion SAC Women's Soccer Tournament. Quarterfinal play will be Tuesday, November 2 on campus sites, with winners advancing to the semifinals at the Manchester Meadows soccer stadium in Rock Hill, S.C., Friday, November 5, with the finals on Sunday, November 7.

2010 SAC WOMEN'S SOCCER COACHES POLL

Pl School Pts.
1. Tusculum (7) 97
2. Carson-Newman (2) 79
3. Wingate 75
4. Lenoir-Rhyne (1) 67
5. Newberry 65
6. Catawba 61
7. Lincoln Memorial 41
8. Brevard 23
9. Anderson 22
10. Mars Hill 20
(First place votes in parenthesis)

2010 WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON ALL-SAC

FIRST TEAM
Forward - Trenna Howell, Carson-Newman
Forward - Elizabeth Hawes, Lenoir-Rhyne
Forward - Laura Linehan, Lenoir-Rhyne
Forward - Tramika James, Tusculum
Midfielder - Andrea Saevik, Carson-Newman
Midfielder - Morgan Gruenenfelder, Carson-Newman
Midfielder - Leanne Reid, Lincoln Memorial
Midfielder - Courtney Turner, Tusculum
Defender - Melissa Morris, Carson-Newman
Defender - Alexa Baird, Catawba
Defender - Catherine Hauck, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defender - Megan Mastalerz, Wingate
Goalkeeper - Emily Rhoades, Newberry

SECOND TEAM
Forward - Jessica Kleinburg, Anderson
Forward - Becky Thompson, Lincoln Memorial
Forward - Kelly Adams, Wingate
Forward - Kerstin Williams, Wingate
Midfielder - Andrea Dunshie, Catawba
Midfielder - Sarah Taylor, Lincoln Memorial
Midfielder - Amberly Fowler, Newberry
Midfielder - Michelle Meade, Tusculum
Defender - Marissa DiMarco, Catawba
Defender - Raquel Abrile, Lincoln Memorial
Defender - Megan Douglas, Newberry
Defender - Claire Duncan, Tusculum
Goalkeeper - Lindsay Webster, Catawba