FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Piedmont College women’s soccer team was picked as the favorites with the release of the USA South Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll on Wednesday.
The defending conference champions earned 61 total points and had five first-place votes to edge out Maryville. The Scots received 60 points and the remaining four first-place votes.
Last season, Maryville took the regular season divisional title, but Piedmont put together an impressive tournament run to claim the championship.
The Lady Lions took down top-seed and host college Greensboro 2-1 in double overtime in the semifinals before defeating the Scots 1-0 in the championship game.
Piedmont finished with a 17-5-1 record and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament where it fell 2-1 to #17 Lynchburg.
Covenant was picked third with 48 points while Huntingdon received 41 points for fourth place.
In the East Division, Pfeiffer took six first-place votes for a total of 62 points while Greensboro received the final three first-place votes and 54 points.
Brevard and Pfeiffer, who are reclassifying from NCAA Division II, will be included in preseason polls and are eligible for regular-season championships honors but will not be able to participate in postseason play.
Piedmont will open play on August 30 against Pfeiffer in Maryville, Tenn. The following day, the Lady Lions will play Birmingham-Southern.
| 2019 USA South Women’s Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll West Division |
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| Rank | Institution (1st Place Votes) | Pts. |
| 1. | Piedmont# (5) | 61 |
| 2. | Maryville^ (4) | 60 |
| 3. | Covenant | 48 |
| 4. | Huntingdon | 41 |
| 5. | Brevard* | 38 |
| 6. | Berea | 27 |
| 7. | Agnes Scott | 24 |
| 8. | LaGrange | 13 |
| 9. | Wesleyan | 12 |
| *Ineligible for USA South Tournament (Div. III Reclassifying Member) ^Defending Division Champion #Defending Tournament Champion |
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