Two PBC Women's Soccer Teams Ranked in Preseason Top 25

Two PBC Women's Soccer Teams Ranked in Preseason Top 25

KANSAS CITY, KAN. -- Two Peach Belt Conference women's soccer teams have been ranked in the preseason top 25 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Columbus State will begin the 2009 season as the 6th-ranked team in the nation while UNC Pembroke is ranked #21. For UNC Pembroke, the preseason national ranking is the first in program history while Columbus State was ranked 5th in the 2008 preseason poll.

Columbus State won their fourth straight PBC Championship and third straight PBC Tournament title in 2008, setting conference records for most consecutive titles won in both. The Lady Cougars were ranked as high as #3 in the nation last season, finishing 21-4-1 after advancing to the NCAA national quarterfinals.

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.

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.

View the preseason poll here.