NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport University women's soccer team has been selected in the preseason coaches' poll to win the USA South Athletic Conference title in 2012. The Captains, under the direction of head coach Ruth Keegan, are three-time defending USA South Regular Season Champions.
CNU received ninie of 12 first place votes (119 points) as head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.
Averett University finished second with the remaining three first-place votes and 110 points. League newcomers Maryville College and Piedmont College were selected third and fourth respectively, followed by Greensboro College rounding out the top five.
The Captains have won seven regular season crowns in the last 10 years and have reached six NCAA Tournaments since 2000. After reaching the USA South Conference Championship Game in 2011, the Captains will return eight starters in 2012. CNU will return four of its five leading scorers from a year ago, including junior
Emma O'Reilly (8g, 1a) and senior
Dani Gunderson (5g, 6a). The Captains defense includes senior goalkeeper
Meghan Gumbs and defensive starters
Julie Jennings and
Alexis Stahlman.
The Captains will open the 2012 regular season on September 1 as part of the Marlins Classic in Virginia Beach, when they take on Eastern University and Rutgers-Newark. This season, the USA South Tournament will once again head to Martinsville, Virginia as the Southern Virginia Recreation Facilities Authority will host the 2012 Men's and Women's Soccer semifinals and finals. The contests will be held at the Smith River Sports Complex on November 2 and 3. The first round games of the tournaments will continue to be held on the campuses of the higher seeded team and will take place on Saturday, October 27. The top-eight seeded teams after the conclusion of regular season competition will advance to the tournament.
|
2012 USA South Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll |
|
Rank |
Institution (1st Place Votes) |
Pts. |
|
1. |
Christopher Newport (9) |
119 |
|
2. |
Averett (3) |
110 |
|
3. |
Maryville |
95 |
|
4. |
Piedmont |
90 |
|
5. |
Greensboro |
82 |
|
6. |
Meredith |
71 |
|
7. |
Methodist |
65 |
|
8. |
LaGrange |
49 |
|
9. |
Ferrum |
48 |
|
10. |
N.C. Wesleyan |
31 |
|
t-11. |
Mary Baldwin |
16 |
|
t-11. |
William Peace |
16 |
