Thursday, August 10, 2006

LADY SAINTS PICKED EIGHTH IN PRESEASON POLL

Augusta, GA – The Columbus State Lady Cougars have been selected as the preseason favorite to capture the 2006 Peach Belt Conference women’s soccer championship in a poll of the league’s head coaches released on Thursday. The Lady Cougars garnered eight of a possible nine first-place votes for 80 points, finishing ahead of second-place Clayton State who had 74. Armstrong Atlantic State was third with 62 and UNC Pembroke fourth with 54.

Columbus State, in only their second year of competition, was a co-Champion in the Peach Belt along with Clayton State in 2005. The Lady Cougars finished 6-1-1 in league play, 15-6-1 overall and hosted the PBC Tournament. Things should only improve in 2006 as virtually the entire team returns, including PBC Freshman of the Year Kellie Myles who led the squad with 15 goals. The Lady Cougars should be especially strong defensively as All-Conference defenders Megan Honig and Sarah Hawkins return along with All-Conference goalkeeper Monica Sanchez.

Clayton State finished as co-Champions with CSU but beat the Lady Cougars in the PBC Tournament finals to earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Lakers return 10 of 11 starters in 2006, including PBC Player of the Year Olaitan Yusuf, who led the league with 21 goals last year. Also back are All-Conference forward Nkese Udoh and All-Conference midfielder Jennifer Powell. The biggest hole Clayton State will have to fill will be in goal following the loss of All-Conference keeper Judith Chime.

Armstrong Atlantic State began their women’s soccer program in 2005 and made an immediate impact, going 6-2 in PBC play, 11-8 overall and advancing to the PBC Tournament semifinals. The Pirates led the PBC in scoring thanks to Shana Neves and Lyndsi Strickland, both of whom were named All-Conference and are returning for 2006.

For the second year in a row, the Peach Belt will welcome in a new member. Georgia Southwestern State University will join league play in 2006. The Hurricanes are in the first year of a four-year transition to the NCAA Division II ranks from the NAIA and will not be eligible for NCAA postseason play. However, they will be able to play in the PBC Tournament in late October.

Below is the 2006 preseason coaches poll. Teams receiving a first-place vote were awarded nine points, second place received eight points and so on. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams. The 2006 season begins on Thursday, Aug. 24 and rolls on through the PBC Tournament which begins on Oct. 25.

PBC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	Total
1. Columbus State	8	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	80
2. Clayton State	2	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	74
3. Armstrong Atlantic	0	2	6	0	0	1	0	0	0	62
4. UNC Pembroke	0	0	3	5	0	0	1	0	0	54
5. USC Upstate	0	0	1	0	5	1	1	1	0	41
6. Lander	0	0	0	1	3	4	1	0	0	40
7. GCSU	0	0	0	3	1	1	3	1	0	38
8. North Georgia	0	0	0	1	0	2	3	2	1	28
9. USC Aiken	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	6	0	24
10. Ga. Southwestern	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	9

-NGCSU-

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