ROME, Ga. – The USA South Athletic Conference's women's soccer coaches released their 2021 preseason polls on Wednesday, August 25th. When the announcement came forth, Salem was picked sixth in the East Division standings.

Each divisional preseason poll included votes from only coaches within that particular division-only. Head coaches were unable to vote for their own teams in the balloting.

Salem, which did not compete in any sports during the 2020-21 athletic season, returns to the field after finishing off the 2019 season with a 12-6-1 mark and an appearance in the USA South Conference Semifinals.

A key offensive holdover from that unit, Ellie Montes, returns to complete her senior season in 2021. Montes capped off the 2019 slate tied with Courtney Chaplin for most goals (six) while handing out five assists while attempting 55 shots (33 shots on goal). Salem head coach Robin Ramirez will also have Baylee Greenwood in his offensive arsenal in 2021. Greenwood finished with four goals and three assists (11 points) on 29 shots, netting one game winner along the way.

Another key returnee for the 2021 Spirits is defender Gina Franco, who was part of a Salem unit that limited the opposition to 28 goals and 112 shots on goal in 2019. Franco and classmate Jessica Cruz, who will also be in fold for Salem in 2021, will look to provide leadership for a Spirits' defensive unit that provided a double-digit goal advantage over the opposition (40-28) for the first time since 2017, when the Spirits outscored their opponents 42-17.

Methodist was atop the rankings in the East Division poll and will look to capture the program's 13th regular season league title and its third tournament crown. During last season's COVID-altered spring campaign, Greensboro captured the USA South's East Division championship for the second time in the past three seasons. The Pride were picked second in the East Division standings in 2021.

Following Greensboro in the polls for the East Division were Pfeiffer, N.C. Wesleyan and William Peace, respectively. Salem's sixth place prediction was followed by Mary Baldwin, Meredith, Southern Virginia and Averett.

Maryville was ranked first in the West Division poll and will look to capture a regular season title for the fourth time in the past five seasons. As for last year's COVID-altered spring campaign, it was Piedmont who earned the West Division championship.

A new addition to the sport of women's soccer within the USA South Conference will be Southern Virginia who enters the league for its first year of membership.

The 2021 USA South Women's Soccer Tournament will once again be conducted exclusively on campus sites. The top-five seeded teams from each division will advance to the tournament.