Peach Belt Announces Women’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team

AUGUSTA, GA -- The Peach Belt Conference has released the 2009 women’s soccer preseason All-Conference team. 11 players were placed on the team as voted on by the league’s head coaches. Columbus State, the four-time defending PBC Champions, and GCSU lead the team with three selections each while Armstrong Atlantic State has two. UNC Pembroke, North Georgia and conference newcomer Flagler have one honoree apiece.

For Columbus State, two of the three selections play at forward. Two-time All-Conference standout Gina Goforth led the team and was third in the PBC with 18 goals last year. Now a senior, Goforth is already eighth on the PBC’s all-time career goals list with 35 and could break into the top five by year’s end. Forward Stephanie Parrish has been named All-Conference and All-Region in each of her first two seasons. Now a junior, Parrish was second on the team with 15 goals a year ago and was named PBC Freshman of the Year in 2007. Midfielder Jill Walthall will be the Lady Cougars’ team captain in 2009. The junior had seven goals and five assists a season ago.

Midfielder Ally Treat was a big part of the success Georgia College & State University enjoyed in 2008 as the team reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time. Returning for her junior year, Treat scored twice with two assists and was named All-Conference in 2008. Morgan Cobb was also named All-Conference last season as a defender, helping to lead GCSU to a league-low 10 goals allowed and 0.48 GAA. Likewise, All-Conference goalkeeper Mary Rob Plunkett was instrumental in the Bobcats’ success last year. The junior keeper led the PBC with a 0.47 GAA and in save percentage at .886. She also recorded nine shutouts in net.

Armstrong Atlantic State’s Kristen Burton was the top forward on every preseason ballot. Returning for her senior season, the 2006 and 2008 PBC Player of the Year is currently second on the PBC’s all-time goals list with 64 in her career. Burton scored 22 goals to lead the PBC in 2008. Also selected from AASU is defender Kelli Bahr who returns for her junior season. Bahr scored one goal in 2008 as part of a defense that had a meager 1.14 goals per game average. She has been named to the PBC All-Tournament team twice.

UNC Pembroke’s Britney Joiner was named the 2008 PBC Freshman of the Year after scoring 11 goals with four assists and helping the Lady Braves to reach the PBC Tournament final for the first time. Joiner was ranked fifth in the PBC in goals. North Georgia’s Casey Smith earns a spot on the preseason team as a defender although she was the only PBC player to be named both an offensive and defensive player of the week last year. The All-Conference stopper had four goals with eight assists. Flagler joins the Peach Belt for the 2009 season and midfielder Tiffany Urquhart becomes the first to earn a PBC accolade. The senior scored seven goals for the Saints in 2008 and was named third-team All-Region.

2009 Peach Belt Conference
Women’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team

Forwards
Kristin Burton, Armstrong Atlantic State
Gina Goforth, Columbus State
Britney Joiner, UNC Pembroke
Stephanie Parrish, Columbus State

Goalkeeper
Mary Rob Plunkett, GCSU

Midfielders
Ally Treat, GCSU
Tiffany Urquhart, Flagler
Jill Walthall, Columbus State

Defenders
Kelli Bahr, Armstrong Atlantic State
Morgan Cobb, GCSU
Casey Smith, North Georgia