Thursday, August 16, 2012

PHILIPPI, W.Va. -- The Alderson-Broaddus women’s soccer team was picked to finish second in the conference preseason poll released Thursday by the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

“It is an honor to receive five first place votes,” said Head Coach Patrick McGinnis. “Expectations have to be a regular season conference championship and a conference tournament championship.”

A-B earned its first WVIAC Championship last season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Battlers return nine starters including Kate Laird, the 2011 WVIAC Women’s Soccer Player of the Year. She posted 101 saves and registered a 0.86 goals against average last season.

“The experience is there,” explained McGinnis. “Kate Laird is on pace to finish in the top 30 or 40 in Division II minutes played and on top of that we have a monstrous freshman class.”

West Virginia Wesleyan was tabbed to finish first in the WVIAC and received five first place votes as well and edged the Battlers by just two votes for the top spot.

The full preseason poll is listed below.

Place     Team (First-place votes)               Total Points

1.             WV Wesleyan (5)                             111

2.            Alderson-Broaddus (5)                  109

3.            Charleston (1)                                    93

4.            Davis & Elkins                                    92

5.            Shepherd                                           74

6.            Concord                                             64

7.            Wheeling Jesuit                                58

8.            Seton Hill                                           49

9.            West Liberty                                       33

10.          Ohio Valley                                        23

11.          Pitt-Johnstown                                 20