ROCK HILL, S.C. - The Anderson University women's soccer team was picked to finish ninth in the South Atlantic Conference coaches' preseason poll, as released by the conference office Thursday afternoon.

Led by first-year head coach Samar Azem, the Trojans will be looking to improve on last season's 6-11-1 mark that saw AU nearly qualify for the SAC Tournament in its inaugural season in the league. The Trojans opened the 2010 campaign with a three-match win streak and went on to claim four wins in their first five home matches last season.

AU junior midfielder Carrie Settle earned a spot on the preseason All-Conference second team after her sophomore season saw the Columbia, S.C, native lead the team in scoring with 14 points on the strength of six goals and two assists, ranking second on the squad. One of her assists came after she beat a Brevard defender then played a ball through to teammate Jessica Kleinberg, who netted the goal as AU posted a 2-1 win and capped a late-season two-match win streak. Settle's early goal in the Lander match nearly propelled AU to a road win past the Bearcats and her sixth goal of the season helped lead AU to a near-upset of then 25th ranked North Georgia.

"Preseason votes are significantly based off past reputations and performances," said Azem. "In a conference as competitive as the SAC, our players understand that we need the results to earn respect. The experience of competing in last season's first full SAC schedule matched with a strong non-conference schedule this year will assist us as we begin moving forward. With each day, the players are already showing a strong level of commitment, which is necessary for us to be competitive in the South Atlantic Conference and accomplish our goals."

Lenoir-Rhyne, which finished one win shy of the 2010 NCAA Women's Soccer Final Four, was a nearly unanimous selection by the SAC coaches to win the 2011 league title. The Bears, 2010 co-regular season champions and Food Lion SAC Tournament winners, received nine of the 10 first-place votes.

L-R is also heavily represented on the preseason All-SAC team, with six first-team selections, including defending conference Player of the Year and Daktronics All-American Catherine Hauck. The Bears also have one student-athlete on the second team.

Wingate came in at No. 2 in the preseason poll. The Bulldogs, runners-up in last season's Food Lion SAC Tournament, also have two first-team and one second-team preseason All-Conference selections. This includes 2010 first-team All-SAC honorees Izabella Miranda and Kelly Moldenhauer.

No. 3 in the poll was Tusculum, which features four preseason All-Conference selections. TC forward Tramicka James is the Pioneers' lone first-team selection after also being named to the 2010 All-SAC first team.

Carson-Newman, which tied Lenoir-Rhyne for the 2010 regular season title was fourth in the coaches' poll and received the other first-place vote. The Eagles also landed one student-athlete on the preseason All-SAC first team - 2010 first-team selection Trenna Howell - and two on the second team.

Next in the poll was Catawba at No. 5, Newberry at No. 6 and Lincoln-Memorial at No. 7. Catawba and Lincoln Memorial each placed two on the preseason All-Conference team, while Newberry has one.

Rounding out the coaches' poll is Mars Hill at No. 8 and Brevard at No. 10.

MHC has two preseason All-SAC selections, and Brevard and Anderson each have one.

The SAC women's soccer season officially kicks off on Sept. 1, and the Food Lion SAC Championship is slated for Nov. 1-6, with the semifinals and final taking place in Rock Hill.
AU

SAC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll

Team Points (1st Place)
1. Lenoir-Rhyne 99 (9)
2. Wingate 88
3. Tusculum 73
4. Carson-Newman 72 (1)
5. Catawba 54
6. Newberry 46
7. Lincoln-Memorial 45
8. Mars Hill 40
9. Anderson 19
10. Brevard 14

Preseason All-SAC Team

First Team
F - Trenna Howell, Carson-Newman
F - Allie Hovis, Brevard
F - Sarah Taylor, Lincoln Memorial
F - Tramicka James, Tusculum
MF - Elizabeth Hawes, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF - Kaelia Frazier, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF - Catherine Hauck, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF - Izabella Miranda, Wingate
D - Jessica Schob, Lenoir-Rhyne
D - Casey McDonnell, Lenoir-Rhyne
D - Kelly Moldenhauer, Wingate
D - Cassie Smith, Newberry
GK - Caitlin Scruggs, Lenoir-Rhyne

Second Team
F - Bianca Hall, Carson-Newman
F - Laura Linehan, Lenoir-Rhyne
F - Patience Leonard, Tusculum
F - Juliana Conte, Catawba
MF - Leanne Reid, Lincoln Memorial
MF - Michelle Meade, Tusculum
MF - Kelly Adams, Wingate
MF - Carrie Settle, Anderson
D - Marissa DiMarco, Catawba
D - Racquell Pimental, Carson-Newman
D - Martha Taboas, Mars Hill
D - Amy Morford, Tusculum
GK - Chelsea Parker, Mars Hill