ROCK HILL, S.C - Anderson University women's soccer has been predicted to finish eighth in the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Coach's Poll while three players garner preseason All-SAC honors, announced by the league office on Wednesday.
The Trojans finished 7-8-1 overall during the 2018 campaign. Anderson opened the season with a tough nonconference slate using that experience to reel off four straight wins to open South Atlantic Conference play, finishing with a solid 6-3-1 overall league finish and a trip to the SAC Championship Quarterfinals.
Lincoln Memorial has been selected as the favorite to win the 2019 SAC Championship, earning seven first place votes and a total of 106 points. Carson-Newman picked up three first place votes earning a total of 100 points for a second place prediction. Lenoir-Rhyne earned a first place vote landing in the third spot with 93 points. Catawba was slotted fourth while Tusculum was voted fifth. Queens grabbed the sixth spot with Wingate (59) narrowly edging out Anderson (57) for the seventh slot. Newberry, Mars Hill and Coker land in the final three positions of the SAC 2019 Preseason Poll.
Black and Gold senior Bethany Morgan, junior Kirsten Armetta and sophomore Maggie Black earned preseason All-Conference Second Team honors. Morgan, Armetta and Black each garnered All-Conference Honorable Mention following the 2018 season.
Morgan started 15 matches for the Trojans logging over 1000 minutes. As a junior midfielder scored three goals on the season with one being a game-winner. Morgan took 11 shots with 14 coming on goal.
Armetta led the team with four goals and six assists with all four goals being game-winners. As a sophomore forward she started all 16 matches taking 30 shots with 16 coming on goal.
Black scored two goals on the season and was second on the team with three assists. The Pendleton, S.C. native made 12 starts playing in all 16 matches.
Anderson will open its 2019 campaign on September 7th against Conference Carolinas opponent Emmanuel.
2019 Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank |
School (First Place Votes) |
Points |
1. |
Lincoln Memorial (7) |
106 |
2. |
Carson-Newman (3) |
100 |
3. |
Lenoir-Rhyne (1) |
93 |
4. |
Catawba |
82 |
5. |
Tusculum |
66 |
6. |
Queens |
63 |
7. |
Wingate |
59 |
8. |
Anderson |
57 |
9. |
Newberry |
37 |
10. |
Mars Hill |
29 |
11. |
Coker |
17 |
Women's Soccer Preseason All-Conference 2019
First Team
F – Daphne Heyaime, Newberry
F – Emilee Futrell, Carson-Newman
F – Jessica Cravero, Lincoln Memorial
F – Itzel Ballesteros, Lincoln Memorial
MF – Maria Hernandez, Lincoln Memorial
MF – Jovana Sanchez, Catawba
MF – Aqsa Mushtaq, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Mariana Diaz, Lincoln Memorial
D – Christina Shimshock, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Jente Kuper, Carson-Newman
D – Leanne Bryant, Queens
GK – Jackie Burns, Carson-Newman
Second Team
F – Lulu Phan, Queens
F - Sanne Martinsen, Mars Hill
F – Hannah Van eerden, Lenoir-Rhyne
F – Kirsten Armetta, Anderson
MF – Abigael McGarel, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Bethany Morgan, Anderson
MF – McKenna Delong, Wingate
MF – Lara Hallgrimsdottir, Carson-Newman
D – Katie Beck, Catawba
D – Fabienne Loetscher, Lincoln Memorial
D – Maggie Black, Anderson
D – Kenzie Ellenburg, Tusculum
GK – Shelby Thompson, Catawba