Lady Braves Start 2009 Season Nationally Ranked

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The UNCP women’s soccer team achieved another first for itself on Tuesday morning as the Lady Braves garnered their first-ever preseason national ranking, checking in at No. 21 in the initial top 25 listing by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Also appearing in the preseason poll were fellow Peach Belt Conference member Columbus State (ranked 6th) and Carson-Newman (13th). The Lady Braves, who were ranked as high as #6 in the NSCAA top 25 last season, return six starters from their 2008 team including PBC Freshman of the Year Britney Joiner. UNCP finished their record-breaking season with a 19-3-1 record and fell to #18 Carson-Newman, 1-0, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.  Seattle Pacific of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference was ranked first in this year’s preseason listing.

Carson-Newman went on to finish out their 2008 season in their next round match-up against Columbus State losing 1-0 to the Lady Cougars.  Although they advanced to the quarterfinals, Columbus State could not carry their momentum from their win over Carson-Newman and did not advance any further in the tournament, losing 1-0 to West Florida.

The NSCAA conducts the most widely recognized national and regional soccer ranking system in the country as a service to the general public and its members. The intent of the rankings program is to stimulate greater interest in men's and women's soccer at the intercollegiate and interscholastic levels and to recognize those programs that are enjoying remarkable success on a regional and national level.