Date Posted: 8/10/2006

MACON, Ga. – Kennesaw State did not wait long to jump to the front of the class as the Owls top the 2006 Atlantic Sun Conference preseason women’s soccer poll. The league’s coaches handed KSU nine of a possible 10 first place votes as they prepare for their second season in the A-Sun.

Coach Rob King’s squad is also the preseason favorite to capture the league’s tournament title and the automatic bid into the NCAA Championship that accompanies it. Kennesaw State returns three All-Atlantic Sun selections, but took a big hit in the back as A-Sun co-Defensive Players of the Year Katrina Hirsch and Jessica Marek graduated. The Owls have built a 68-9-3 record in the four years since the program was established including an impressive second place showing in the A-Sun standings last season.

The league’s North Carolina contingent of Campbell and Gardner-Webb check in at second and third respectively. The Camels have appeared in each of the last two A-Sun Championship title matches, but will be guided by their third coach in as many seasons with Todd Clark bringing an impressive resume to Buies Creek. The Bulldogs must replace the best player program history, Leeanna Woodworth, but a strong recruiting class bolsters GWU’s chances in 2006. Jacksonville and Stetson each won first round matches at the 2005 Championship and are picked fourth and fifth. Newcomer UNF continues a steady climb, narrowly missing out on landing in the preseason top-5. ETSU, Mercer, Belmont and Lipscomb round out the poll.

KSU will bookend the 2006 season as they are the first team in action, welcoming Georgia Southern for an exhibition on August 13 as well as hosting the season-ending Atlantic Sun Championship on November 2-4.

The 12-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, UNF and Stetson with Florida Gulf Coast and USC Upstate beginning competition in 2007-08.

Tournament Champion: Kennesaw State

Related Links:
 • A-Sun Women's Soccer