TicketsWomen?s Soccer Picked Fourth in Conference USA
8/14/2001
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CHICAGO, Ill. - The University of Cincinnati women?s soccer team has been picked to finish fourth in Conference USA in a preseason poll of the league?s coaches.
In addition, Cincinnati senior forward Ann Thomas was named to the 12-player preseason All-Conference USA squad. ?Being picked fourth shows that we have earned a little respect in the league since last year when we were picked to finish seventh,? said Bearcat coach Meridy Glenn.
The Bearcats are coming off a strong showing in 2000. After a disapointing 8-10-1 record in 1999, UC rebounded to record a 16-6-0 overall mark and finish third in Conference USA with a 9-2 record, losing only to champion Marquette and second place Saint Louis.
Thomas, a starter in seven games as a junior in 2000, is the third leading returning scorer this year with three goals and a pair of assists.
?Ann?s selection shows that the coaches recognize how strongly she finished last season,? Glenn said. ?She had a great second half of the year, playing well against a number of conference opponents.?
Saint Louis goalkeeper Meghann Burke, last season's Defensive Player of the Year, was chosen as the 2001 preseason Conference USA Player of the Year.
Marquette was picked to repeat as champion by the league?s coaches. The Golden Eagles won last year's regular season title with a 10-0-1 mark and represented C-USA in the NCAA Championship for the second year in a row, winning its first round match for the second straight season.
Saint Louis was tabbed for second place followed by Charlotte in third, Cincinnati in fourth and Houston in fifth.
?Conference USA has developed into a good women?s soccer league,? Glenn said. ?This year it expands to 14 teams, adding tough programs in TCU and East Carolina which will only make it a bigger challenge to finish at the top.?
The 2001 season gets underway on Friday, August 31. The top eight regular season finishers in conference play will participate in the Conference USA Tournament, Nov. 7-10 in Milwaukee, Wis.
2001 C-USA PRESEASON POLL (as selected by C-USA coaches) 1. Marquette 2. Saint Louis 3. Charlotte 4. Cincinnati 5. Houston 6. TCU 7. East Carolina 8. South Florida 9. Tulane 10. UAB 11. Memphis 12. Southern Miss 13. DePaul 14. Louisville
2001 C-USA PRESEASON AWARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR Meghann Burke, Jr., GK, Saint Louis ALL-CONFERENCE SQUAD Kara Bullinger, Sr., MF, Houston Meghann Burke, Jr., GK, Saint Louis Sherry Dick, Jr., F, TCU Kate Gordon, Jr., F, Marquette Jill Hayes, So., F, Charlotte Kristen Jensen, So., MF, Marquette Jenny Kehl, Jr., MF/F, Saint Louis Colleen Lake, Jr., MF/F, Tulane Tia Opliger, Jr., MF, South Florida Denise Peters, Sr., F, UAB Ann Thomas, Sr., F, Cincinnati Tricia Wiles, Jr., F, Southern Miss