NEW ORLEANS. – The Coastal Carolina women's soccer team had one student-athlete, Eefje Botjer named to the 2025 Sun Belt preseason team and were selected to finish fifth in the preseason coaches' poll, the league announced on Wednesday.
As a freshman, Botjer was a cornerstone of the Chanticleer backline, starting all 19 matches last season. The Schiffdorf, Germany, native helped lead Coastal to six shutouts and a 1.16 goals-against average, which ranked fifth in the Sun Belt in 2024. She also added one assist against Southern Miss and recorded a team-leading 1,482 minutes on the pitch.
Reigning Sun Belt regular-season and tournament champion James Madison was selected as the preseason favorite, earning 189 points and nine first-place votes. Texas State followed in second with 178 points and three first-place votes, while Old Dominion claimed third with 169 points and one first-place vote.
Coastal landed in fifth place with 117 points, just behind South Alabama in fourth with 145 points. Georgia State (115 points), ULM (114 points), Appalachian State (102 points), and Georgia Southern (84 points) rounded out the sixth through ninth spots. Marshall placed 10th with 68 points and one first-place vote, followed by Louisiana (11th, 64 points), Southern Miss (12th, 52 points), Arkansas State (13th, 40 points), and Troy (14th, 33 points).
2025 Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Ginny Lackey, James Madison (So., F, Manchester, England)
Preseason Midfielder of the Year:
Victoria Meza, Texas State (Jr., M, San Salvador, El Salvador)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Ashlynn Kulha, Old Dominion (Jr., D, Holly Springs, N.C.)
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year:
Sofia DeCerb, James Madison (R-So., GK, Greensburg, Pa.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
F – Ginny Lackey, James Madison (So., Manchester, England)
F – Aaliyah Faddoul, Georgia State (Jr., Ontario, Canada)
F – Izzi Wood, App State (Gr., Hickory, N.C.)
M – Ellie Garrison, App State (So., Trinity, N.C.)
M – Victoria Meza, Texas State (Jr., San Salvador, El Salvador)
M – Jamie Swartz, James Madison (Sr., Palmyra, Pa.)
D – Eefje Botjer, Coastal Carolina (So., Schiffdorf, Germany)
D – Kennley Bradley, Texas State (Gr., Ogden, Utah)
D – Ashlynn Kulha, Old Dominion (Jr., Holly Springs, N.C.)
D – Jordan Yang, James Madison (Sr., Clifton, Va.)
GK – Sofia DeCerb, James Madison (R-So., Greensburg, Pa.)
2025 Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. James Madison (9) – 189
2. Texas State (3) – 178
3. Old Dominion (1) – 169
4. South Alabama – 145
5. Coastal Carolina – 117
6. Georgia State – 115
7. ULM – 114
8. App State – 102
9. Georgia Southern – 84
10. Marshall (1) – 68
11. Louisiana – 64
12. Southern Miss – 52
13. Arkansas State – 40
14. Troy – 33
Parentheses indicate first-place votes
For complete coverage of CCU women's soccer, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalWSoccer (X), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com
