The Piedmont women’s soccer team has been tabbed as the preseason favorites to repeat as Collegiate Conference of the South champions, as the Preseason Coaches Poll was released Monday morning.
The Lions led the pack with 55 total points, ahead of second-place Maryville, which came in with 51. Belhaven placed third with 45 total points.
There was a significant gap between the Blazers and fourth-place Covenant, which placed fourth with 36. LaGrange (32) and Huntingdon (30) rounded out the middle of the pack, at fifth and sixth, respectively, while Berea (25), Agnes Scott (13), and Wesleyan came in seventh, eighth and ninth.
Last season, Piedmont rallied after going 0-1-1 in its first two CCS contests to win the final six contests of the regular season slate. The team then carried that momentum into the CCS Tournament, with the stout defense not allowing a single goal while the Lions were victorious in penalty kicks over Maryville in the final.
Leading the group of Piedmont returners is standout junior goalkeeper Haylee Dornan, the 2023 CCS Tournament MVP. On the offensive end, senior forward Maddy Parris is the leading returning goal scorer, as she scored a career-best four last season. Sophomores Savannah Jerome and Sierra Judson also return after scoring three goals each in outstanding freshman campaigns.
Piedmont is slated to begin its 2023 season this weekend, playing a doubleheader on Friday, September 1, at Birmingham-Southern (1 p.m.) and No. 14 Emory (7:30 p.m.)
