Rock Hill, S.C. – The Big South Conference Annual Women's Soccer Preseason Poll was announced Monday afternoon.
The Eagles received 33 points and were selected 8
th among the 10 league programs. The Eagles were 6-7-2 overall in 2021 and finished with a 4-5-1 record in the Big South. Winthrop returns seven starters from the 2021 squad, but lost its top four scorers.
Emma Smith and
Jessica Gengler are the top returning scorers for the Eagles.
Campbell received seven first-place votes and 97 points overall and is the preseason favorite. High Point is second after receiving three first-place votes and 90 points. Following the Panthers were Radford, Longwood, Gardner-Webb, Charleston Southern, UNC Asheville, Winthrop, USC Upstate and Presbyterian College.
Campbell's Jessica Donald was voted as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while her teammate Delaney Baumbick was voted the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Charleston Southern's Jenna Moran was voted as the Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
Winthrop will have two exhibition contests starting with Wednesday, Aug. 10 at Coastal Carolina (6 p.m.). The Eagles will also travel to Queens for an exhibition on Sunday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m.
The season-opener for the Eagles will be Friday, Aug. 19 as they travel to Montgomery, Ala. to take on Alabama State at 7 p.m. (EST).
To keep up with the latest news on the Winthrop women's soccer program follow the Eagles on Twitter (@WinthropWSoccer), Instagram (@WinthropWSoccer) and Facebook (/WUWomensSoccer).
2022 BIG SOUTH PRESEASON WOMEN'S SOCCER POLL
| Rk - School (first-place votes) |
Points |
| 1 - Campbell (7) |
97 |
| 2 - High Point (3) |
90 |
| 3 - Radford |
79 |
| 4 - Longwood |
72 |
| 5 - Gardner-Webb |
54 |
| 6 - Charleston Southern |
53 |
| 7 - UNC Asheville |
40 |
| 8 - Winthrop |
33 |
| 9 - USC Upstate |
20 |
| 10 - Presbyterian College |
12 |
Note: points are based on a weighted system, with first-place votes receiving 10 points, followed by 9 points for second-place, and so on.
