WJU Third, D&E Edges WVWC For No. 1 Position In WVIAC Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll

Princeton, WV, August 18, 2010---Davis & Elkins is the top pick, but WVIAC women's soccer coaches expect a tight race for the league title in 2010.  The defending regular season champion Senators nabbed four first place votes to edge West Virginia Wesleyan 90-85 atop the league's annual coaches' poll.  Wesleyan, the 2009 conference tournament champion, grabbed three mentions for the number one position.

Wheeling Jesuit received one first place vote and placed third, while upstart Alderson-Broaddus was fourth.  The Battlers grabbed the final two votes for the top spot.  Concord completes the upper half of the poll at fifth.  Charleston, Pitt Johnstown, Seton Hill, Shepherd, and Ohio Valley round out the balloting.

Davis & Elkins (14-5, 10-0 WVIAC) is led by seniors Cole Dant and Bonnie Little.  Dant, a three-time first team All-WVIAC honoree at forward, owns 64 goals and 17 assists in her D&E career.  Little earned second team all-conference honors after tallying four goals for head coach Raul Ovalle's side last season.  Sophomore Allison Dant is a returning All-WVIAC first team defender.

West Virginia Wesleyan (13-7-1, 8-1-1 WVIAC) has a new coach as Patrick Holguin takes the reins in Buckhannon and the cupboard isn't bare from last season's NCAA Division II Tournament squad.  Midfielder Meghan Zayas (5g, 6a) was the 2009 WVIAC Player of the Year.  Defender Alanna Torrey also was a first team all-conference selection.  The Bobcats also have plenty of experience in goal with senior Lauren Hessian (0.65 gaa) and junior Caroline Lalley (0.77 gaa).

Wheeling Jesuit (11-10, 7-3 WVIAC) expects big things with six seniors playing key roles for Carrie Hanna's squad.  Senior forward Kara Houston was the Daktronics Atlantic Region Player of the Year after recording 25 goals and four assists last season.  A talented recruiting class should also pay dividends for WJU.

Alderson-Broaddus (12-4-1, 6-3-1 WVIAC) used a stingy defense to improve by nine victories in only the program's second season.  Nine starters are back on hand for head coach Pat McGinnis, including 2009 WVIAC Freshman of the Year Kasie Shoemaker (15g, 3a).  First team all-conference defender Megan Johnson keyed a unit that only allowed 13 goals last season.

Concord (12-7, 7-3 WVIAC) is another program that welcomes a new head coach as former West Virginia University and Cincinnati assistant Stefani Workman is now in charge of the Lady Lions.  Senior forward Gemma Nortcliffe has found the back of the net 21 times in each of the past two seasons and owns 49 goals in her career.

Charleston (5-13-1, 3-6-1 WVIAC) struggled on offense during 2009 as the Golden Eagles were limited to two or fewer goals on 13 occasions.  First team All-WVIAC defender Fallon Nicholas, paired with a dynamic crop of newcomers, gives head coach Todd Diuguid hope for a much improved 2010 campaign.

Pitt Johnstown (8-10, 4-6 WVIAC) head coach Jim Herlinger will field an inexperienced side in 2010 as the 20 of the 26 Lady Cats are freshmen or sophomores.  Sophomore Lindsey Roessler (2g, 7a) and senior Brittney Miller (4g, 2a) are the top returning scorers for UPJ.

Seton Hill (6-13, 4-6 WVIAC) returns nine starters for veteran head coach John Fogle.  Forwards Mackiesh Taylor and Amber Mondock tied for the team lead last season with five goals each.

Shepherd (5-12-2, 3-6-1 WVIAC) has seven returning regulars as head coach Jim Sweeney heads into his seventh season.  Junior forwards Brianna Hines and Erin Quinn each posted seven goals apiece in 2009.

Ohio Valley (1-17, 1-9 WVIAC) head coach Brianne Lodato welcomes a recruiting class that consists of players from five different states.  Junior goalkeeper Abbi Menear paced the WVIAC with over eight saves per contest last season.

The 2010 WVIAC women's soccer season begins Thursday, September 2 with four in-region contests, including a trio versus Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference competition.  The six-team WVIAC Tournament takes place November 1-6.  All post-season matches are hosted by the higher seed.

The complete 2010 WVIAC women's soccer coaches' poll follows:

1.	Davis & Elkins (4)	90
2.	WV Wesleyan (3)	85
3.	Wheeling Jesuit (1)	77
4.	Alderson-Broaddus (2)	74
5.	Concord	67
6.	Charleston	50
7.	Pitt Johnstown	38
8.	Seton Hill	35
9.	Shepherd	28
10.	Ohio Valley	11