The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Women's Soccer Picked Sixth In C-USA Preseason Poll
8/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB women’s soccer team was picked sixth in the 2014 Conference USA Preseason Poll, the league office announced on Tuesday.
The Blazers are coming off a turnaround campaign in 2013 in which they qualified for the C-USA Tournament for the first time since 2009, also the last year the squad totaled an 11-win season prior to the 2013 slate.
UAB returns three all-conference selections from a year ago including sophomores Kim Fincher and Morgan Key-Adams, and junior Paige Hanks. Johanna Liney, Kelsey Waechter, Mary Catherine Combs and Megan Collins all return for their senior campaigns, while the Blazers welcome 12 newcomers to the 2014 squad.
The 2014 format for C-USA features 14 teams with all schools competing in the same division, playing 10 conference matches throughout the season. The top eight teams during the regular season, as determined by points, will advance to the C-USA Championship, set for Nov. 5-9 in Charlotte, N.C.
Charlotte was tabbed as the preseason coaches’ favorite to win the 2014 championship, while North Texas, Rice, FIU and UTEP round out the top five in front of the Blazers. North Texas’ Rachel Holden was selected as the preseason offensive player of the year, while Charlotte’s Monica Trickett earned preseason defensive player of the year honors.
The Blazers will begin the season on Aug. 22 against South Alabama in Mobile. After seven road matches to begin the schedule, UAB will open its home slate on Sept. 19 against Chattanooga at West Campus Field at 7 p.m. CT.
For more information on the UAB women’s soccer team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UABWomensSoccer). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official Twitter account of UAB Athletics (@UABAthletics).
