THOMASVILLE, N.C. -- For the third consecutive season, the Belmont Abbey College women's soccer team has been picked to lead Conference Carolinas by the league's head coaches. The Abbey has won the conference title two out of the last three seasons, and returns 13 players from last year's team that allowed just one goal en route to a perfect 11-0-0 mark in Conference play. The Abbey ended up shutting out every conference opponent last year after defeating Limestone 2-0 in the conference semifinals. Limestone scored the only goal the Abbey allowed in conference play with 11 seconds remaining in a 4-1 win. The Abbey set conference records for shutouts (10) and fewest goals allowed (one). The Crusaders ended up with 16 shutouts and an 18-4-1 overall record. Belmont Abbey will return six of their eight all-conference selections, including defenders Danielle Kubinski, Amanda Maddock and Kristin Voirin and forwards Celene Molera and Lindsay Palm and goalkeeper Anna Wells. Pfeiffer University comes in at number two in this year's preseason poll after finishing second in the league last year with a 8-2-1 league record and 10-7-4 overall mark. Pfeiffer's six seniors of Kirsten Bartsch, Madison Kerth, Julia Barker, Shannon Davis, Angela Reale, and Katie Franca are ready and hope to lead this team to its best season ever. Queens University of Charlotte women's soccer team is coming off what could arguably be the best season in program history after winning the conference tournament title and advancing to its first ever NCAA Tournament. The Royals will rely on senior leadership in forward Kari Byzewski, midfielders Erin Saleeby, and defenders Mary-Ashley Davino and Whitney Henson to guide the underclassmen, including 11 freshmen, to a season of success. In total, the Royals have 13 players returning including leading-scorer Byzewski and both goalkeepers, Kristen Kornacki and Michelle Landry. Rounding out the poll 4-12 are: Mount Olive, Barton, Limestone, Erskine, St. Andrews, Anderson, Lees-McRae, Coker, and Converse respectively. Conference Carolinas Women's Soccer Preseason Poll (# of First Place Votes in Parenthesis) 1. Belmont Abbey (5) 114 2. Pfeiffer (4) 111 3. Queens (2) 92 4. Mount Olive 85 5. Barton 80 6. Limestone (1) 76 7. Erskine 53 8. St. Andrews 52 9. Anderson 50 10. Lees-McRae 39 11. Coker 25 12. Converse 15
November 6, 2008
Women's Soccer Places Two On All-Conference Team
November 3, 2008
Two Late Goals Get Pfeiffer Past Lady Trojans
October 29, 2008
Lady Trojans Rout Converse, 9-0
October 27, 2008
Lees-McRae Beats Lady Trojans, 2-0
October 23, 2008
Newberry Blanks Women's Soccer Team
October 18, 2008
Anderson Women Snap Winless Streak
October 16, 2008
Lady Trojans Fall To North Greenville
October 15, 2008
Lady Trojans, St. Andrews Battle To Draw
October 15, 2008
Tinker Leads Erskine Women Past AU
October 4, 2008
Abbey Blanks Lady Trojans
October 1, 2008
Mars Hill Rallies Past AU
September 27, 2008
Lady Trojans Snap Losing Streak
September 26, 2008
Lady Trojans Fall To Wingate
September 22, 2008
Queens Blanks Lady Trojans
September 17, 2008
Limestone Women Beat AU, 3-1
September 13, 2008
Barton Women Beat AU In OT
September 6, 2008
Lady Trojans Fall To Lander, 1-0
September 3, 2008
Dowiak Adds Henderson As Assistant Coach
September 3, 2008
Lady Trojans Win Opener, 3-1
August 28, 2008
Belmont Abbey Is No. 1 In Women's Soccer Poll
August 28, 2008
Dowiak Expects Improvement In Year Two