Winthrop

ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop women’s soccer team has been picked to finish seventh in the annual Big South Conference Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll, it was announced on Tuesday. The preseason poll was voted on by the women’s soccer coaches from around the conference.

The Lady Eagles received a total of 36 points in the poll after finishing last season with a 5-10-6 overall record and 2-5-2 mark in the conference. Winthrop also made its first appearance in the Big South Tournament title game in 2009, falling to High Point in penalty kicks.

Liberty, the defending regular season champions, was predicted to finish first after tallying a total of 94 points and five first-place votes. Charleston Southern was picked second with 87 points and four first-place votes, while Coastal Carolina garnered third-place honors with 72 points. The Panthers (one first-place vote) and Radford were selected to finish fourth and fifth with 69 and 68 points, respectively. Gardner-Webb came in sixth with 55 points, followed by the Lady Eagles, and VMI in eighth place with 31 points. UNC Asheville (23 points) and Presbyterian (15 points) rounded out the preseason voting in ninth and tenth place.

Charleston Southern forward Marky Boyce was named the Preseason Attacking Player of the Year, while Radford goalkeeper Lisa Lubke was voted the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Winthrop will open its season on Saturday, Aug. 14 with an exhibition match at Wofford, followed by a home exhibition contest with The Citadel on Tuesday, Aug. 17. The regular season will begin on the road against Georgia Southern on Friday, Aug. 20 at 4 p.m.

2010 Big South Conference Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll
Team (first-place votes)                        Points
Liberty (5)                                               94
Charleston Southern (4)                           87
Coastal Carolina                                     72
High Point (1)                                         69
Radford                                                  68
Gardner-Webb                                        55
Winthrop                                              36
VMI                                                       31
UNC Asheville                                        23
Presbyterian                                          15