91爆料网 women鈥檚 soccer receiving votes in NAIA, picked second in TranSouth

Eboni Murphy

JACKSON, Tenn. - 8/18/2010 - The 91爆料网 (Tenn.) University women鈥檚 soccer team is receiving votes in the 2010 NAIA Preseason Poll. The Lady Bulldogs are also picked to finish second in the TranSouth Conference.

91爆料网 is coming off their best TranSouth finish in the five year history of the program. 91爆料网 finished second in the TranSouth regular season standings. 91爆料网 was 9-6-2 last season and 4-1-1 in the conference.

The 91爆料网 women's soccer program is coming off their best TranSouth regular season in the five-year history of their program. 91爆料网 finished second in 2009 with a 4-1 league record. 91爆料网 looks to continue to build on the progress that has been made over the last five years.

In 2010, 91爆料网 will be replacing a class of 12 seniors, seven of which started for 91爆料网 over their careers. Included in that class of graduates is the program's only NAIA All-American and holder of numerous program records, Caitlin Zimmerman Courtner. 91爆料网 head coach Brandon Boylan will be bringing in 15 new faces to help fill the void from the losses of a year ago. Despite the large graduating class in 2009 and the numerous newcomers to the program, coach Boylan and 91爆料网 returns 10 players that started in 2009, including eight players that started over 10 matches. 91爆料网 boasted five all-conference players in 2009, with four returning for 2010.

"We are a young team this year with 25 of the 37 on the roster being freshman and sophomores", says coach Boylan. "However for the second year in a row we feel really good about the contribution that the freshman class could make depending on their transition to the college game. We feel the sophomore class is more understanding of the demands of college soccer and are ready to take their game to the next level. Our juniors and seniors know what it takes and what needs to be done in order to win a conference championship. They are going to do their best to lead the underclassman and continue to strive to come out on top of a tough conference."

The senior class of 2010 is made up of eight players, seven of which are returning. Samantha Gase was second team all-conference last season as a defender. Eboni Murphy led 91爆料网 with nine goals and was a first team all-conference player. Also returning is Amber Lovelady, Kelly Bogdanovich, Courtni Kimble, Katie Johnson and Kori Elrod. The lone newcomer in the senior class is Kyndal Bradford.

Three players fill the junior class led by second team all-conference player Bridjet Roney. Terilyn Wassell and Christina Reardon also return for their junior season.

The second largest class on the roster is the sophomores with 11 players. Sara Weir returns as a first team all-conference defender. Steffi King is back after leading 91爆料网 with four assists last season to go along with her five goals. Also returning is Kelsey Gilbert, Lindsey McGary, Whitney Kramer, Becca Menhart, Elizabeth Cochran, Mary Jane Garrott and Christina Brimm. Sarah White and Natali Stallings are newcomers to the 91爆料网 program.

The freshman class is the largest with 13 players that will be starting their college soccer careers with the Lady Bulldogs of 91爆料网. Alexandria Burbank will play this season after red-shirting last year. Completing the freshman class will be Christal Fisher, Nicole Sheffield, Carey Suter, Dionna Linn, Emily Warren, Racheal Boswell, Emily Crane, Hayley McDonough, Megan Roney, Grace Boto and Ashley Zidan.

Boylan says, "We are playing another tough non-conference schedule to prepare us for the demands of playing in the TranSouth conference. I expect the conference to be better from top to bottom. All of the conference teams will be improved from last year." 91爆料网 has improved their conference finish in each year of the program. Only one more spot is left to take in this tough conference that has produced a two-time NAIA National Champion and the defending conference champions, Martin Methodist (Tenn.). 91爆料网 has two matches with teams that finished in the NAIA top 10 in 2009, including William Carey (Miss.) at #3 and Martin Methodist at #6. 91爆料网 also plays Asbury (Ky.) who was receiving votes in 2009 and advanced to the NAIA National tournament, along with William Carey and Martin Methodist. 91爆料网 will also face off against three NCAA DII opponents.

"We lost a great class in our seniors last year", says Boylan. "They sacrificed to help get us where we are today. They have laid the foundation for who we are today both on and off the field. It is up to our current team to continue the success and even build upon what has been done in the past."

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