Tusculum selected third in SAC Preseason Coaches' Poll

August 18, 2011

Pioneers place four on All-SAC Preseason Team

ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Tusculum College women's soccer team has been picked third in the annual South Atlantic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, released by the league office on Thursday. The conference's 10 head coaches participated in the voting.

The Pioneers finished 9-9-1 overall last season and placed seventh in the SAC standings with a 3-5-1 league record. Tusculum upset second-seeded Carson-Newman 1-0 in overtime in the Food Lion SAC Tournament quarterfinals to advance to the semifinal round for the 10th time in 13 years as a league member.

Four Pioneers were named to the preseason All-SAC team, led by first-team junior foward Tramicka James. Earning second-team nods were senior forward Patience Leonard, senior midfielder Michelle Meade and sophomore defender Amy Morford.

Head coach Mike Joy begins his 15th season at Tusculum with 190 wins, four SAC regular-season titles and four Food Lion SAC Tournament crowns on his resume. Now in his 20th season overall as a college coach, Joy ranks among the all-time NCAA Division II leaders in coaching victories (276, 5th) and winning percentage (16th, .704).

James, a native of Wilson, N.C., is a repeat selection to the preseason All-SAC first team after earning first-team All-SAC honors in 2010. A two-time first-team NSCAA All-Southeast Region selection, James led the Pioneers with 17 goals and 38 points last season. She paced the SAC in goals per game (0.895) and finished 16th in the final NCAA Division II statistics. In two seasons, James already ranks seventh in career points with 68 and is tied for fifth on the all-time goals list with 28.

Meade, a native of Greeneville, was named second-team preseason All-SAC for the second straight season. She ranked second on the Pioneers with eight goals and 22 points last season and shared the team lead with three game-winning goals. Meade begins her senior season tied for fourth in career assists at Tusculum with 25.

Leonard, also a native of Greeneville, tallied a team-high 10 assists last season (tied for third on the program single-season list) and tied for third on the team with 18 points. Her average of 0.47 assists per game placed her 31st in the final NCAA Division II statistics.

Morford, a native of Versailles, Ky., stepped into the lineup as a freshman and made 13 starts. Tusculum recorded five shutouts in her 13 starts, and did not allow more than three goals in any game.

Defending regular-season and Food Lion SAC Tournament champion Lenoir-Rhyne earned nine of 10 first-place votes and captured 99 points to grab the top spot in the poll. Wingate (88 points), Tusculum (73 points), Carson-Newman (72 points) and Catawba (54 points) rounded out the top half of the survey, with Carson-Newman earning the other first-place vote.

Newberry ranked sixth with 46 points, followed by Lincoln Memorial (45 points), Mars Hill (40 points), Anderson (19 points) and Brevard (14 points).

Tusculum kicks off its 2011 season at Pioneer Field on Friday, Sept. 2 hosting Montevallo at 4 p.m. as part of the six-team Tusculum Kickoff Tournament. The Pioneers begin SAC play on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Wingate, and will wrap up the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Lenoir-Rhyne.

- SAC -

SAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Pl. Team (1st Place Votes) Pts.
1. Lenoir-Rhyne (9)    99
2. Wingate                 88
3. TUSCULUM                73
4. Carson-Newman (1)       72
5. Catawba                 54
6. Newberry                46
7. Lincoln-Memorial        45
8. Mars Hill               40
9. Anderson                19
10. Brevard                14

2011 Preseason All-SAC Women's Soccer Team

First Team
F - Trenna Howell, Carson-Newman
F - Allie Hovis, Brevard
F - Sarah Taylor, Lincoln Memorial
F - Tramicka James, Tusculum
MF - Elizabeth Hawes, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF - Kaelia Frazier, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF - Catherine Hauck, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF - Izabella Miranda, Wingate
D - Jessica Schob, Lenoir-Rhyne
D - Casey McDonnell, Lenoir-Rhyne>
D - Kelly Moldenhauer, Wingate
D - Cassie Smith, Newberry
GK - Caitlin Scruggs, Lenoir-Rhyne

Second Team
F - Bianca Hall, Carson-Newman
F - Laura Linehan, Lenoir-Rhyne
F - Patience Leonard, Tusculum
F - Juliana Conte, Catawba
MF - Leanne Reid, Lincoln Memorial
MF - Michelle Meade, Tusculum
MF - Kelly Adams, Wingate
MF - Carrie Settle, Anderson
D - Marissa DiMarco, Catawba
D - Racquell Pimental, Carson-Newman
D - Martha Taboas, Mars Hill
D - Amy Morford, Tusculum
GK - Chelsea Parker, Mars Hill