TicketsCINCINNATI - The 10 coaches of the American Athletic Conference women's soccer programs recently voted for several preseason accolades with University of Cincinnati sophomore Sophie Gorman being selected as an AAC Preseason All-Conference honoree, the league announced Tuesday. The coaches' poll, which also was released Tuesday, saw the coaches select the Bearcats to finish fourth in the standings with UCF edging out USF for the top position in 2018.
// GORMAN GRABS HONOR
Gorman was not only one of 11 individuals selected to the preseason all-conference team, but she was also one of just five players to be unanimously selected, joining Dina Orschman (UCF), Marie Levassuer (Memphis), Elizabeth Woerner (Memphis) and Evelyne Viens (USF) in that distinction. The preseason award is the first earned by Gorman after she was placed on the league's all-conference second team and the all-rookie team following her freshman campaign in 2017 in which she led the Bearcats in goals scored (6), assists (4) and points (16) while tying for the team lead in game-winning goals scored (3).
// ADDING TO HISTORY
With Gorman's selection to the all-conference team, the Bearcats have placed at least one individual on the listing in each of the last three years after having not earned an honor in the first three years of the conference. The run started ahead of the 2016 season with both Vanessa Gilles and Jaycie Brown being honored and continued last year with both Gilles and Julie Gavorski earning selections. Gorman also joins Gilles as the only Bearcats to be unanimous selections to the preseason all-conference team.
// TEAM RECOGNITION
The team was voted to finish fourth overall on the AAC table this year, earning 54 points to edge ahead of SMU, who was selected fifth with 53 points. UCF and USF are views as the Top 2 teams this year and were separated by just three points as the Knights were picked to win the crown with 76 points (6 first-place votes) and the Bulls as runners-up with 73 points (3). Memphis rounds out the Top 3 with 68 points and one first-place vote.
For the Bearcats, their fourth-place selection marks the third time in as many years UC has been tabbed to finish in the Top 4 after being selected third each of the past two seasons. In the previous five seasons of AAC play, the Bearcats have either finished at or improved upon their preseason position four times. The improvements came in 2013 and 2015 while the 2014 and 2017 squads equalled their projected placement. The lone exception was 2016 when UC was picked to finish in a tie for third, but finished tied for fourth.
Preseason Pick vs. Season Finish
// POTENTIAL SHOWDOWNS
According to the coaches' poll, the Bearcats will face the projected Top 3 teams on the road this year and won't have to wait too long to see one of those teams as the conference opener will see a meeting between the projected #4 Bearcats as they travel to face the #3 Memphis Tigers (Thursday, September 20). The first week of October will see the Bearcats venture to the Sunshine State when they take on #2 USF on Thursday, October 4, before closing the trip on Sunday, October 7, at #1 UCF. UC and SMU, separated by just one point in the poll, will meet in the Bearcats' home conference opener on Thursday, September 27.
// UP NEXT
UC will return to their home turf Sunday (August 12) by welcoming Illinois to Gettler Stadium for the final friendly of the 2018 preseason. The match between the Bearcats and Illini will start at 1 p.m.
// FOLLOWING THE BEARCATS
GoBearcats.com is your one-stop destination for all things UC Athletics. Socially, the team can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with all using the handle GoBearcatsWSOC. Head Coach Neil Stafford (@UCGaffer) also can be followed on Twitter.
2018 AAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. UCF • 76 (6)
2. USF • 73 (3)
3. Memphis • 68 (1)
4. Cincinnati • 54
5. SMU • 53
6. UConn • 39
7. Houston • 34
8. ECU • 24
9. Tulsa • 18
10. Temple • 11
# (#) following team name indicates points (first-place votes)
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year • Evelyne Viens, USF, Jr., F
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year • Olivia Gauthier, Memphis, Sr., D
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year • Vera Varis, UCF, Sr., GK
Preseason All-Conference Team
Vera Varis, UCF, Sr., GK
Dina Orschman, UCF, So., F *
Sophie Gorman, Cincinnati, So., F *
Vivien Beil, UConn, Sr., M
Jazmin Grant, Houston, So., F
Olivia Gauthier, Memphis, Sr., D
Marie Levasseur, Memphis, Sr., F *
Elizabeth Woerner, Memphis, Sr., F *
Andrea Hauksdottir, USF, Jr., M
Evelyne Viens, USF, Jr., F *
Allie Thornton, SMU, Jr., F
*indicated unanimous selection
// GORMAN GRABS HONOR
Gorman was not only one of 11 individuals selected to the preseason all-conference team, but she was also one of just five players to be unanimously selected, joining Dina Orschman (UCF), Marie Levassuer (Memphis), Elizabeth Woerner (Memphis) and Evelyne Viens (USF) in that distinction. The preseason award is the first earned by Gorman after she was placed on the league's all-conference second team and the all-rookie team following her freshman campaign in 2017 in which she led the Bearcats in goals scored (6), assists (4) and points (16) while tying for the team lead in game-winning goals scored (3).
// ADDING TO HISTORY
With Gorman's selection to the all-conference team, the Bearcats have placed at least one individual on the listing in each of the last three years after having not earned an honor in the first three years of the conference. The run started ahead of the 2016 season with both Vanessa Gilles and Jaycie Brown being honored and continued last year with both Gilles and Julie Gavorski earning selections. Gorman also joins Gilles as the only Bearcats to be unanimous selections to the preseason all-conference team.
// TEAM RECOGNITION
The team was voted to finish fourth overall on the AAC table this year, earning 54 points to edge ahead of SMU, who was selected fifth with 53 points. UCF and USF are views as the Top 2 teams this year and were separated by just three points as the Knights were picked to win the crown with 76 points (6 first-place votes) and the Bulls as runners-up with 73 points (3). Memphis rounds out the Top 3 with 68 points and one first-place vote.
For the Bearcats, their fourth-place selection marks the third time in as many years UC has been tabbed to finish in the Top 4 after being selected third each of the past two seasons. In the previous five seasons of AAC play, the Bearcats have either finished at or improved upon their preseason position four times. The improvements came in 2013 and 2015 while the 2014 and 2017 squads equalled their projected placement. The lone exception was 2016 when UC was picked to finish in a tie for third, but finished tied for fourth.
Preseason Pick vs. Season Finish
| Year | Presason | Finished |
| 2013 | 9th | 6th |
| 2014 | 6th | 6th |
| 2015 | 5th | 4th |
| 2016 | 3rd(t) | 4th(t) |
| 2017 | 3rd | 3rd |
| 2018 | 4th |
// POTENTIAL SHOWDOWNS
According to the coaches' poll, the Bearcats will face the projected Top 3 teams on the road this year and won't have to wait too long to see one of those teams as the conference opener will see a meeting between the projected #4 Bearcats as they travel to face the #3 Memphis Tigers (Thursday, September 20). The first week of October will see the Bearcats venture to the Sunshine State when they take on #2 USF on Thursday, October 4, before closing the trip on Sunday, October 7, at #1 UCF. UC and SMU, separated by just one point in the poll, will meet in the Bearcats' home conference opener on Thursday, September 27.
// UP NEXT
UC will return to their home turf Sunday (August 12) by welcoming Illinois to Gettler Stadium for the final friendly of the 2018 preseason. The match between the Bearcats and Illini will start at 1 p.m.
// FOLLOWING THE BEARCATS
GoBearcats.com is your one-stop destination for all things UC Athletics. Socially, the team can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with all using the handle GoBearcatsWSOC. Head Coach Neil Stafford (@UCGaffer) also can be followed on Twitter.
2018 AAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. UCF • 76 (6)
2. USF • 73 (3)
3. Memphis • 68 (1)
4. Cincinnati • 54
5. SMU • 53
6. UConn • 39
7. Houston • 34
8. ECU • 24
9. Tulsa • 18
10. Temple • 11
# (#) following team name indicates points (first-place votes)
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year • Evelyne Viens, USF, Jr., F
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year • Olivia Gauthier, Memphis, Sr., D
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year • Vera Varis, UCF, Sr., GK
Preseason All-Conference Team
Vera Varis, UCF, Sr., GK
Dina Orschman, UCF, So., F *
Sophie Gorman, Cincinnati, So., F *
Vivien Beil, UConn, Sr., M
Jazmin Grant, Houston, So., F
Olivia Gauthier, Memphis, Sr., D
Marie Levasseur, Memphis, Sr., F *
Elizabeth Woerner, Memphis, Sr., F *
Andrea Hauksdottir, USF, Jr., M
Evelyne Viens, USF, Jr., F *
Allie Thornton, SMU, Jr., F
*indicated unanimous selection