Salem soccer picked third in USA South West Division pre-season poll

Salem soccer picked third in USA South West Division pre-season poll

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) – The USA South Athletic Conference's women's soccer coaches have released their 2016 preseason polls. Each divisional preseason poll only includes votes from coaches within that particular division-only. Head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting. This is the first season that the Conference will split into divisions in the sport of women's soccer as the Conference welcomes new League members Agnes Scott College, Salem College and Wesleyan College.

"The USA South West Division is going to be a very, very tough division," said Salem Soccer Head Coach Jay Callahan. "The goal for everyone is to get a top two seed and advance to the USA South Final Four weekend and it will be very tough in this division. Piedmont, Maryville, and Covenant all have some of the most-winning coaches in NCAA DIII soccer and great programs. Agnes Scott has been our rival for the past five years and LaGrange and Huntingdon are tough places to play. There won't be anything easy this year in the west division."

Placing tied atop the USA South West Division poll was Maryville College and Piedmont College. The Scots finished the 2015 season third in the USA South regular season standings while the Lions finished second but captured the USA South Tournament title for the second time in the past three years. Each team received 45 total points as Piedmont collected five first place votes and Maryville grabbed the final three first place votes. Placing third in the poll with 38 points was Salem followed by Covenant College in fourth place with 31 points and Agnes Scott in fifth place with 25 points. Rounding out the poll were LaGrange College (18 points), Huntingdon College (13 points) and Wesleyan (nine points).

Placing tied atop the USA South East Division poll was Meredith College and Methodist University. The Avenging Angels finished the Conference regular season unbeaten with one tie last season to capture their second consecutive USA South regular season championship. The Monarchs finished fourth in last season's regular season standings and reached the finals of the USA South Tournament before falling in the finals, in overtime, for the second consecutive season. Each team received 46 total points and four first place votes. Placing third in the poll with 32 points was Ferrum College followed by N.C. Wesleyan College in fourth with 31 points and Greensboro College in fifth place with 27 points. Rounding out the poll were Averett University (22 points), William Peace University (13 points) and Mary Baldwin (seven points).

The women's soccer regular season gets underway on Thursday, September 1 as 12 of the League's 16 teams are in action.

The 2016 USA South Tournament will once again take place on campus sites. The top-six seeded teams from each division will advance to the tournament.

 


2016 USA South Women's Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll
West Division

Rank

Institution (1st Place Votes)

Pts.

t-1.

Maryville (3)

45

t-1.

Piedmont (5)

45

3.

Salem

38

4.

Covenant

31

5.

Agnes Scott

25

6.

LaGrange

18

7.

Huntingdon

13

8.

Wesleyan

9

2016 USA South Women's Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll
East Division

Rank

Institution (1st Place Votes)

Pts.

t-1.

Meredith (4)

46

t-1.

Methodist (4)

46

3.

Ferrum

32

4.

N.C. Wesleyan

31

5.

Greensboro

27

6.

Averett

22

7.

William Peace

13

8.

Mary Baldwin

7