SFA Soccer Picked to Finish Second; Pair of Ladyjacks Named to Preseason All-Conference Teams
8/9/2018 12:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Stephen F. Austin picked as runners-up for second straight season
Southland Preseason Poll Release | Southland Preseason All-Conference Release
FRISCO, Texas – The Southland Conference Preseason Coaches Poll for women's soccer was released at noon on Thursday, and the Ladyjacks were the consensus runner-up pick for the regular season standings, per a release from the conference office. Stephen F. Austin finished with 212 points and two first-place votes, the second season in a row in which they were tabbed to finish second. Last season's champion Lamar was picked to finish first with a total of 240 points and 20 first-place votes.
Abilene Christian also garnered a pair of first place votes and totaled 182 to slide into the third spot, while Central Arkansas was fourth with 172 points and McNeese fifth with 169. Houston Baptist was sixth with 161 points, followed by Sam Houston State with 124 and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the eighth spot with 102 points. Northwestern State (61), Nicholls (41) and UIW (35) rounded out the bottom of the poll.
Prior to the release of the preseason poll was the disclosure of the Preseason All-Conference Teams on Wednesday, which recognized 22 individuals as some of the conference's best heading into the season. The first team was made up almost entirely of automatic selections from last season's All-Conference returners, and the Second Team filled up quick, leaving SFA with just two selections there. Midfielder Sophie Fondren makes her first appearance on the Preseason All-Conference Teams, while Carli Arthurs appears on the list for the second straight season. Fondren netted 11 points in her freshman campaign last season, dishing out a team-high seven assists while starting every game in the midfield. Arthurs was a mainstay on the back line, starting all 21 games and notching a pair of goals and a pair of assists while forming part of SFA's stalwart defense.
Abilene Christian, Houston Baptist and Lamar University lead the way with four total selections each, with ACU and Lamar each garnering three spots on the first team.Sam Houston State snared three spots on the preseason all-conference teams while Central Arkansas, McNeese and Stephen F. Austin each collected a pair of honorees. Northwestern State earned a lone spot on the second team.
"It is always special when you are recognized by your peers for high level performances and certainly Carli and Sophie represented themselves very well last year", said SFA head soccer coach Wally Crittenden. "What is even more impressive to me, and I know Carli and Sophie share this sentiment, is the level of respect for our team culture and the recognition that, as a team, we are picked to finish second with only two players named to the first or second teams. This will be a point of inspiration to our squad and I have no doubt this will be the final piece to help solidify our team-first and "Everyday Champion" mentality."
Picking the Ladyjacks to finish near the very top of the league is a smart bet, as SFA hasn't finished lower than second place since the 2009 season, a streak of eight straight first-place or runners-up finishes. Crittenden's crew returns experience and scoring at every level of play this season, and is in good position to continue that streak in his sixth season at the helm.
The Ladyjacks play a pair of exhibition contests this weekend, a final tune-up before the season opener against LSU-Shreveport on August 17. Louisiana-Monroe comes to town on Friday evening for the first exhibition, and SFA travels to Houston on Sunday for a game against the University of Houston.
-SFA-
FRISCO, Texas – The Southland Conference Preseason Coaches Poll for women's soccer was released at noon on Thursday, and the Ladyjacks were the consensus runner-up pick for the regular season standings, per a release from the conference office. Stephen F. Austin finished with 212 points and two first-place votes, the second season in a row in which they were tabbed to finish second. Last season's champion Lamar was picked to finish first with a total of 240 points and 20 first-place votes.
Abilene Christian also garnered a pair of first place votes and totaled 182 to slide into the third spot, while Central Arkansas was fourth with 172 points and McNeese fifth with 169. Houston Baptist was sixth with 161 points, followed by Sam Houston State with 124 and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the eighth spot with 102 points. Northwestern State (61), Nicholls (41) and UIW (35) rounded out the bottom of the poll.
Prior to the release of the preseason poll was the disclosure of the Preseason All-Conference Teams on Wednesday, which recognized 22 individuals as some of the conference's best heading into the season. The first team was made up almost entirely of automatic selections from last season's All-Conference returners, and the Second Team filled up quick, leaving SFA with just two selections there. Midfielder Sophie Fondren makes her first appearance on the Preseason All-Conference Teams, while Carli Arthurs appears on the list for the second straight season. Fondren netted 11 points in her freshman campaign last season, dishing out a team-high seven assists while starting every game in the midfield. Arthurs was a mainstay on the back line, starting all 21 games and notching a pair of goals and a pair of assists while forming part of SFA's stalwart defense.
Abilene Christian, Houston Baptist and Lamar University lead the way with four total selections each, with ACU and Lamar each garnering three spots on the first team.Sam Houston State snared three spots on the preseason all-conference teams while Central Arkansas, McNeese and Stephen F. Austin each collected a pair of honorees. Northwestern State earned a lone spot on the second team.
"It is always special when you are recognized by your peers for high level performances and certainly Carli and Sophie represented themselves very well last year", said SFA head soccer coach Wally Crittenden. "What is even more impressive to me, and I know Carli and Sophie share this sentiment, is the level of respect for our team culture and the recognition that, as a team, we are picked to finish second with only two players named to the first or second teams. This will be a point of inspiration to our squad and I have no doubt this will be the final piece to help solidify our team-first and "Everyday Champion" mentality."
Picking the Ladyjacks to finish near the very top of the league is a smart bet, as SFA hasn't finished lower than second place since the 2009 season, a streak of eight straight first-place or runners-up finishes. Crittenden's crew returns experience and scoring at every level of play this season, and is in good position to continue that streak in his sixth season at the helm.
The Ladyjacks play a pair of exhibition contests this weekend, a final tune-up before the season opener against LSU-Shreveport on August 17. Louisiana-Monroe comes to town on Friday evening for the first exhibition, and SFA travels to Houston on Sunday for a game against the University of Houston.
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