AUGUSTA, Ga. − The Flagler College Saints women’s soccer team was selected eighth in the Peach Belt Conference preseason coaches poll released this afternoon by conference officials.
Flagler tallied 48 points and picked up one second place votes to go along with one fourth, one fifth, one sixth, three seventh and three eighth place votes.
Columbus State University, ranked 12th in the NSCAA preseason poll and winners of the conference title the past five years in a row, was the unanimous pick to finish first with all 10 votes for 100 points. Coaches can not vote for their own teams. Armstrong Atlantic State University finished second with 88 points after receiving one first place vote, seven second, one third and one fourth. North Georgia College & State University (75) was picked third and Lander University (68) fourth. Georgia College & State University (61), the University of Montevallo (54) and UNC Pembroke (50) precede the Saints.
Clayton State University (31) is tabbed for ninth place while USC Aiken (20) and Georgia Southwestern State University (10) round out the field.
Flagler was picked to finish eighth in last year’s preseason coaches poll, but finished in a tie for sixth place with a record of 4-5-1. The Saints posted an overall record of 8-9-1. Head Coach Teddy Meyer welcomes back 13 returners along with 11 newcomers. All-Region and all-conference midfielder Tiffany Urquhart will be one of Meyer’s challenges to replace. She led the team in scoring with eight goals and 19 points. However, sophomore forward
Loren Cate (Apopka, Fla./Apopka HS) returns having scored six goals as a freshman. Saint Leo University transfer
Cristina Coca (Riverview, Fla.) and freshmen
Brittany D’Addio (Delray Beach, Fla.) and
Haley Powers (Coppell, Texas) are a few of the top newcomers for the Saints.
Flagler kicks off the season Sept. 3 at the Queens University of Charlotte Tournament with the host school at 8 p.m. The tournament concludes Sept. 5 against Pfeiffer University. Flagler’s home opener is Sept. 15 against Lynn University at 5 p.m. The conference home opener is Sept. 18 when they take on UNC Pembroke at 5 p.m.
The conference tournament quarterfinals will be held at the higher team’s field. The semifinals and finals will be played at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Ga., in conjunction with the men’s soccer tournament and the cross country championships as part of the first-ever PBC Fall Festival.