August 4, 2009

ROCK HILL, S.C. - The Mars Hill women's soccer team was picked to finish eighth place in the 2009 South Atlantic Conference in a vote of the league coaches, the conference office announced today. The Lions received 18 points overall.

The Lions placed four on the preseason All-Conference team. Forward Abby Martin (Greer, S.C.) and midfielder Misha Price (Cary, N.C.) were named to the first team, while midfielder Caity Murnahan (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) and defender Brittany Downs (Orlando, Fla.) were named to the second team.

Martin was the 2007 SAC Freshman of the Year and has led the Lions in scoring the past two years. Price tallied two goals and three assists while starting 18 games in 2008.

Murnahan missed last season due to injury but was the SAC Freshman of the Year in 2006. Downs started all 21 games in 2008 and registered two goals and two assists.

Defending regular season and conference tournament champion Carson-Newman, which advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament, received all nine first-place votes.

Mars Hill opens the 2009 season on August 28 against Texas A&M Commerce in the Tusculum Soccer Tournament. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.

2009 SAC WOMEN'S SOCCER COACHES POLL

Pl School Pts.
1. Carson-Newman (9) 81
2. Catawba 62
3. Wingate 55
4. Lenoir-Rhyne 53
5. Tusculum 46
6. Lincoln Memorial 42
7. Newberry 36
8. Mars Hill 18
9. Brevard 12
(First place votes in parenthesis)

2009 WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON ALL-SAC

FIRST TEAM
Forward - Kelly Adams, Wingate
Forward - Laura Linehan, Lenoir-Rhyne
Forward - Kerstin Williams, Wingate
Forward - Abby Martin, Mars Hill
Midfielder - Amberly Fowler, Newberry
Midfielder - Becky Thompson, Lincoln Memorial
Midfielder - Misha Price, Mars Hill
Midfielder - Courtney Turner, Tusculum
Defender - Melissa Morris, Carson-Newman
Defender - Catherine Hauck, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defender - Katie Hunter, Carson-Newman
Defender - Madi Welch, Wingate
Goalkeeper - Lauren Mackenzie, Carson-Newman

SECOND TEAM
Forward - Morgan Gruenfelder, Carson-Newman
Forward - Trenna Howell, Carson-Newman
Forward - Nikki Brennan, Carson-Newman
Forward - Rebecca Lin, Lenoir-Rhyne
Midfielder - Nikki Blackwelder, Catawba
Midfielder - Audrey Moore, Lenoir-Rhyne
Midfielder - Caity Murnahan, Mars Hill
Midfielder - Allie Johns, Newberry
Midfielder - Michele Meade, Tusculum
Defender - Jessie Stephens, Carson-Newman
Defender - Samantha Baldwin, Wingate
Defender - Sara Geisman, Newberry
Defender - Brittany Downs, Mars Hill
Goalkeeper - Lindsay Webster, Catawba

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