USA South announces preseason soccer polls
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Methodist University men and the Maryville College women enter the season as the top-ranked teams in the USA South Athletic Conference's preseason soccer polls.
Beginning its third season in the USA South, Huntingdon is tied for ninth in the men's poll and is ranked 11th in the women's poll. The preseason polls were released on Wednesday.
The Methodist men received six first-place votes and a total of 93 points. Greensboro, the 2014 regular-season champion, was second with two first-place votes and 85 points. Covenant, the 2014 USA South Tournament champion, tied for third with two first-place votes and 78 points. North Carolina Wesleyan also tied for third with one first-place vote and 78 points. Huntingdon finished with 21 points.
The Maryville women, coming off a USA South Tournament championship last season, garnered seven first-place votes and 136 points. Meredith and Piedmont, the 2014 regular-season co-champions tied for second. The Avenging Angels received three first-place votes and 125 points. Piedmont also received 125 points. Huntingdon totaled 30 points.
Both Huntingdon teams open the season on Sept. 1. The men host Birmingham-Southern at 7:30 p.m. and the women travel to Talladega College for a 4 p.m. game.
The complete polls are below.
2015 USA South Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Methodist (6 first-place votes), 93 points
2. Greensboro (2), 85 points
T3. Covenant (2), 78 points
T3. N.C. Wesleyan (1), 78 points
5. Maryville, 76 points
6. Averett, 51 points
7. Piedmont, 45 points
8. Ferrum, 42 points
T9. Huntingdon, 21 points
T9. William Peace, 21 points
11. LaGrange, 15 points
2015 USA South Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Maryville (7 first-place votes), 136 points
T2. Meredith (3), 125 points
T2. Piedmont, 125 points
4. Methodist (2), 116 points
5. N.C. Wesleyan (1), 97 points
6. Covenant, 90 points
7. Greensboro, 77 points
8. Averett, 68 points
9. Ferrum, 63 points
10. LaGrange, 46 points.
11. Huntingdon, 30 points
12. William Peace, 29 points
13. Mary Baldwin, 12 points