Columbus State Voted Women’s Soccer Preseason Favorite

AUGUSTA, GA -- The Columbus State Lady Cougars have been selected the 2007 women’s soccer preseason favorite in a poll of the league’s head coaches released on Thursday.  CSU received six of a possible eight first-place votes for 62 points, just ahead of Armstrong Atlantic State who was second with 57 and Clayton State who was third with 48.  GCSU, North Georgia, UNC Pembroke, USC Aiken, Lander and Georgia Southwestern rounded out the voting.

    Columbus State broke through last year, going 9-0 in conference play to capture the PBC Championship, then beating Armstrong Atlantic State on penalty kicks in the PBC Tournament final and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time.  The 2007 Lady Cougars have the chance to be even better with all 11 starters returning, including all seven PBC All-Conference selections from last year.  Gina Goforth and Rachel Walthall, both entering their sophomore seasons, tied for the team lead in goals with 12.  CSU’s entire starting defense also returns with All-Conference defenders Sarah Hawkins, Megan Honig and Judith Ospina in the field and All-PBC goalkeeper Monica Sanchez in net.  Together, they led the league with a 0.56 team goals against average.
    Armstrong Atlantic State finished second in the PBC with an 8-1 record, advanced to the PBC Tournament championship game and received their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2006.   The 2007 team should be a title contender once again with the return of six starters including Kristen Burton, who became only the second player in PBC history to be named the Player of the Year and the Freshman of the Year in the same season.  Burton led the league in goals with 19 last year and was named an All-American.  Also returning are All-Conference forward Lyndsi Stricklen and goalkeeper Tarra Kohler who had a 0.94 goals against average last year.
    Clayton State was hampered by injuries in 2006 but hope to return to the form that saw the team win the PBC title and tournament title in 2005.  Senior forward Olaitan Yusuf is just two goals and 10 points away from becoming the PBC’s all-time leader in both categories.  Also returning are senior forward Yasemin Sunbul who was named All-Conference after scoring eight goals and senior goalkeeper Lindsay Schmidt who played every minute in goal for the Lakers in 2006.
    The 2007 preseason coaches’ poll is broken down below.  Teams were given eight points for a first-place vote, seven for a second and so on. Coaches were not allowed to rank their own teams.  The 2007 women’s soccer season begins on Aug. 23 with PBC Conference play beginning on Sept. 12 and continuing on to the PBC Tournament which will be held Oct. 30 to Nov. 4.