Women's Soccer Tabbed Third in Preseason Poll
8/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
NEW ORLEANS, LA. - The Coastal Carolina University womens soccer team was picked third in the Sun Belt Conference's 2016 preseason poll, announced Tuesday based on voting by the conference's head coaches.
In its first year as a member of the Sun Belt Conference, the Chanticleers will look to make an immediate first impression. Coastal womens soccer has only competed against three Sun Belt members including Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and UL Lafayette holding a 6-3-4 advantage over its now Sun Belt brethren.
Coastal, which finished second in the Big South last year, notched the number three spot in this year's Sun Belt poll totaling 86 points.
Three-time defending tournament champion South Alabama was selected first in the league, receiving 10 first-place votes and 120 points. Troy, who finished in second last season, claimed second place with 102 points.
Appalachian State was picked fourth with 81 points, followed closely by Little Rock in fifth with 77 points. Texas State took the sixth spot with 76, followed by Georgia Southern with 53 and Georgia State in eighth with 49. UL Lafayette (46), Arkansas State (20) and UL Monroe (16) rounded out the conference.
Coastal returns 17 players from last year's squad, including all-conference selections Amber Adams, Kayla Christian and Daniella Famili. The Chants welcome in 14 newcomers for the 2016-17 campaign, which begins officially Friday, Aug. 19 with a matchup at Furman.
2016 Sun Belt Women's Soccer Preseason Poll (first-place votes in parentheses)
1. South Alabama (10) - 120 pts
2. Troy - 102 pts
3. Coastal Carolina - 86 pts
4. Appalachian State - 81 pts
5. Little Rock - 77 pts
6. Texas State - 76 pts
7. Georgia Southern - 53 pts
8. Georgia State - 49 pts
9. UL Lafayette (1) - 46 pts
10. Arkansas State - 20 pts
11. UL Monroe - 16 pts
2016 Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference Team
Jennifer Wittick (Georgia Southern, Senior, Forward)
Yazmin Montoya (UL Lafayette, Senior, Forward)
* Chardé Hannah (South Alabama, Junior, Forward)
** Lauren Prater (Texas State, Senior, Forward)
** Caitlyn Eddy (Little Rock, Sophomore, Midfielder)
* Suzanne Arafa (Georgia State, Senior, Midfielder)
* Danielle Henley (South Alabama, Junior, Midfielder)
* Lindsey Tully (Appalachian State, Junior, Defender)
* Steffi Hardy (South Alabama, Junior, Defender)
** Jemma Purfield (South Alabama, Sophomore, Defender)
* Mikki Lewis (Troy, Junior, Goalkeeper)
* - denotes 2015 First-Team All-Conference | ** denotes 2015 Second-Team All-Conference
2016 Sun Belt Preseason Co-Offensive Players of the Year
Chardé Hannah (South Alabama, Sophomore, Forward)
Lauren Prater (Texas State, Senior, Forward)
2016 Sun Belt Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Steffi Hardy
(South Alabama, Junior, Defender)
