Friday, August 10, 2007

MACON, Ga. (Aug. 10, 2007) - As the Bucs prepare for the 2007 season, the ETSU women's soccer team has been picked to finish fourth by the conference coaches with Kennesaw State picked to take both the regular season and conference titles, while sophomore Jordan Monty (Mesquite, Texas) was selected to the preseason all-conference team.

The Owls received 10 of the possible 12 first place votes as they topped the poll 142 points. Stetson checks in at second with 121 points, while last year's A-Sun champion Jacksonville was selected third with 106 points.

The Bucs finished with a 5-10-4 overall and 4-3-3 conference record last season while earning a fourth seed in last year's conference tournament despite being picked to finish seventh in the league in last year's preseason poll.

The ranking reflects the success the Bucs saw despite a roster depleted by injuries. But with last season's A-Sun Freshman of the Year, Jordan Monty, 12 starters returning and plenty of new talent the Bucs look to improve on last year's fourth place finish.

ETSU will open up their season with an exhibition match against Furman on Friday, August 24 at 2 p.m. They will then open up regular season play against Middle Tennessee State on Friday, August 31 at 4 p.m. Both matches will be played at the new on-campus Summers Taylor Stadium.

The 12-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Florida Gulf Coast, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, UNF, USC-Upstate and Stetson.