8/12/2008 - WOMEN'S SOCCER Kennesaw State picked for a Three-peat

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2007 Defensive Player of the Year Katie Shelton earned a spot on the Preseason All Conference Team. Courtesy Lipscombsports.com

MACON, Ga. - Kennesaw State's senior forward, Caitlin Dingle earned the top individual honor and Kennesaw State swept the team honors in the 2008 Atlantic Sun Conference preseason women's soccer awards, the conference office announced on Tuesday.

"Receiving this award is really an honor for the whole team. Not only does our team have some big expectations to live up to," Dingle said. "I have some big shoes to fill as well following last year's player-of-the-year and my friend Annie Phillips. Hopefully I can live up to it!"

The Rockdale, Ga. native added the preseason Player of the Year award to her impressive list of honors; she was a First Team All-Atlantic Sun Conference selection as well as being named Most Valuable player of the A-Sun Tournament and a three-time A-Sun Player of the Week. She also led the A-Sun in shots, shots per game, goals and goals per game.

"I'm really excited about this season and even though it puts a lot of pressure on us to win the tournament," Dingle said. "I think we can do it because we have a great group of returning players and the newcomers are already adjusting well."

The coaches tabbed the Owls, the 2007 regular-season champion, to win the regular season title and to follow up with the A-Sun Conference Tournament title, which will again be held at Kennesaw State's Soccer Complex for a third straight fall. The Owls earned all 11 first-place votes. Kennesaw State owns a 26-3-1 regular-season conference games.

Kennesaw State head coach Rob King said, "We are very pleased and honored to be recognized as the top team in the Atlantic Sun Conference. It's a great way to start the season and with all of the new faces we have, hopefully by the end of preseason we will still be the team to beat."

The Owls placed two additional members on the squad, defender Bridget Gaughan and midfielder Beth Meadors. Lipscomb senior, Katie Shelton won honor as top goal keeper. Defenders Jessica Rix and Kacie Hudson from Mercer, represent the only two sophomores nominated for the preseason team.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Tournament Champion: Kennesaw State

*-vote was unanimous 

Preseason Player of the Year: Caitlin Dingle, Forward, Kennesaw State