Below is the preview for the most competitive Divison 2 womens soccer conference in the country.
Carson-Newman Picked to Capture 2005 South Atlantic Conference Women's Soccer Title
August 12, 2005
ROCK HILL, SC – Carson-Newman College, which advanced to the NCAA Final Four in 2004 after winning the regular season and Food Lion Tournament titles, is the favorite to win the 2005 South Atlantic Conference women’s soccer title.
The Lady Eagles received five first-place votes and 61 total points. Carson-Newman has won the regular-season league title the past two seasons. The Lady Eagles advanced to the national semifinals last season, where they lost to Adelphi 2-1.
Carson-Newman returns plenty of standouts off that squad, placing six on the preseason All-Conference women’s soccer team. Leading the way is 2004 SAC Women’s Soccer Player of the Year and SAC Women’s Athlete of the Year Rebecca Angus. Angus, a junior forward All-American, averaged .75 goals per match and 1.88 points per match last season. She is joined on the first team by teammates Jennifer Bock, the 2003 SAC Women’s Soccer Player of the Year, midfielder Claire Ramsdale and defender Julie Nelson. Midfielder Erica Stegner and defender Stacey Thomas were named to the second team.
Tusculum College, which shared the regular-season championship with Carson-Newman last year, received the other three first-place votes and 56 total points for second place. The Pioneers placed three on the preseason All-Conference team, with midfielder Denise Fliesser and defender Claudia Turner on the first team, while forward Becky Carreiro was named to the second team.
Catawba College is picked to finish third with 50 points. The Indians return four preseason All-Conference picks, including McKenzie Burman on the first team.
Presbyterian College received 38 points for fourth place. The Blue Hose placed three on the preseason All-Conference first team in forward Claire Joyce, midfielder Megan Smith and defender Lindsay Leffler.
Newberry College is picked to finish fifth with 35 points. Newberry placed six on the preseason All-Conference team, including three on the first team. Forward Inga Woiwode, the co-Freshman of the Year last year, is joined by midfielder Adriana Farfan and goalkeeper Denielle Beckerle on the first team.
Wingate received 21 points for sixth place. The Bulldogs had one preseason All-Conference pick in forward Veronica Acosta, a second-team selection.
Lenoir-Rhyne garnered 19 points. Midfielder Riana Lange was a second-team preseason All-Conference selection.
Mars Hill rounds out the poll. The Lions placed midfielder Kristen Huppert and Tara Carver on the preseason All-Conference second team.
The women’s soccer season begins Thursday, August 25 with three teams in action, including preseason favorite Carson-Newman. The Food Lion South Atlantic Conference women’s soccer tournament semifinals will be held at Newberry College in Newberry, S.C., on Friday, November 4, with the championship match held on Saturday, November 5.
2005 Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll 1. Carson-Newman 61 (5) 2. Tusculum 56 (3) 3. Catawba 50 4. Presbyterian 38 5. Newberry 35 6. Wingate 21 7. Lenoir-Rhyne 19 8. Mars Hill 8 (First place votes in parenthesis)
2005 Preseason All-SAC
First Team
F- Rebecca Angus, Carson-Newman
F- Jennifer Bock, Carson-Newman
F- Inga Woiwode, Newberry
F- Claire Joyce, Presbyterian
MF- Claire Ramsdale, Carson-Newman
MF- Denise Fliesser, Tusculum
MF- Adriana Farfan, Newberry
MF- Megan Smith, Presbyterian
D- Julie Nelson, Carson-Newman
D- Lindsay Leffler, Presbyterian
D- Claudia Turner, Tusculum
GK- Danielle Beckerle, Newberry
AL- McKenzie Burman, Catawba
Second Team
F- Veronica Acosta, Wingate
F- Kyley Thompson, Catawba
F- Becky Carreiro, Tusculum
F- Brooke Tumblin, Newberry
MF- Erica Stegner, Carson-Newman
MF- Riana Lange, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF- Kristen Huppert, Mars Hill
MF- Kristen Parker, Newberry
D- Stacey Thomas, Carson-Newman
D- Lindsay Layman, Catawba
D- Sarah Barnes, Newberry
GK- Cathrine Balentine, Catawba
AL- Tara Carver, Mars Hill
