Armstrong Third; Columbus State 23rd in Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll

KANSAS CITY, KS – The Armstrong Pirates will begin the 2012 women’s soccer season as the #3-ranked team in the nation while Columbus State is 23^rd in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll released today.  North Georgia also received votes in the preseason poll.

Armstrong is looking to build upon a historic season in 2011 that saw the program reach the NCAA final four for the first time in school history.  Winners of the PBC regular-season and Tournament Championships, the Pirates finished 18-3-3 last year, winning the southeast region championship and defeating Tampa 2-1 in the national quarterfinals to advance to the Final Four.  The Pirates return nine seniors from last year’s team that finished the season ranked #3 in the nation.

Columbus State is coming off a 16-4-3 campaign in 2011 with all four of thier losses coming by one goal. The Lady Cougars reached the NCAA Tournament for the sixth straight season and return 15 players including All-Americans Kansas Bayly and Stephanie Lowery.   CSU reached the PBC tournament championship game and the second round of the NCAA Tournament where they fell in a penalty-kick shootout.  CSU was ranked 22^nd in the final poll of the 2011 season.

The 2012 season begins on Aug. 30 with conference play beginning in earnest on Sept. 15.  Regular-season play continues through the PBC Tournament which begins on Oct. 30 with the final four playing on Nov. 2 and 4 at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Ga.  Blanchard Woods is also the site of the 2012 NCAA Final Four, which is also being hosted by the Peach Belt.

See the complete NSCAA poll here.