Women's Soccer Picked Atop SAC Preseason Poll; Eight Players Recognized as Preseason All-SAC Selections
ROCK HILL, N.C. -- Following their impressive 2021 campaign, the Catawba College women's soccer team was picked atop this year's South Atlantic Conference preseason poll, and eight players were named to the Preseason All-Conference list the league announced today.
The women's soccer team received an impressive 11 out of 12 possible first place votes for a voting total of 121 points. Lenoir-Rhyne was picked second with 111 total voting points and one first place vote.
Along with the first place ranking in this year's poll, a total of eight Catawba players were named to the Preseason All-Conference list with seven players placed on the first team.
SAC Offensive Player of the Year and All-American, Hannah Dunn, returns in 2022 as well as SAC Defensive Player of the Year and All-American, Katie Beck. Also returning is All-American goalkeeper, Sierra Davis. All three players were listed on the preseason first team this year.
Catawba also had four other players recognized as first team preseason selections. Joining Dunn at the forward spot is redshirt sophomore Helen Summerell. Summerell was tied for the team lead in game-winning games with four, was second on the team in assists with nine, was third in points with 25, and was fourth on the team in goals with eight in 2021.
The ladies soccer team also had three midfielders named to the preseason first team: Sydney Jimmo, Kasey Hahn, and Sharon Mayes. Jimmo finished second on the team in goals scored last year with 11, and she also had five assists for a total of 27 points, which was also second on the squad. Kasey Hahn started in all 21 games last year while achoring the midfield for the nation's top defense last year, and she led the team in assists with ten. Sharon Mayes played in all 21 games while making 19 starts in 2021. She was fourth on the team in shots on goal with 28 and notched three goals and four assists.
Rounding out Catawba's SAC Preseason All-Conference selections is senior Katie Webb. Webb was selected to the second team defense after helping lead Division II's top defense that allowed just five goals with a 0.23 goals against average in 2021.
The Catawba College Lady Indians will open the regular season on August 25th at 7:00 p.m. against the University of Tampa at Frock Field.
Full Preseason Poll
1. Catawba (11) 121
2. Lenoir-Rhyne (1) 111
3. Carson-Newman 98
4. Wingate 92
5. Limestone 82
6. Lincoln Memorial 69
7. Newberry 61
8. Anderson 51
9. Tusculum 44
10. Coker 27
11. Mars Hill 25
12. Emory & Henry 11