Aug. 24, 2007

It was announced today that two players from the Southern University soccer team was named to the 2007 preseason All-Southwestern Athletic Conference team.

Juniors and team captains Jamika Pugh and Almarie Soto-Ortiz were named. This is Soto-Ortiz's second post season honor in her career on "the bluff" as she received second-team honors at the end of the 2006 season. This is Pugh's first preseason honor.

"I am really proud of the ladies and the job they have done with us," said head coach John Knighten.

The Lady Jaguars were also picked to finish second in the Western Division for 2007. Last season they finished third and fell to Mississippi Valley in the first round of the SWAC soccer tournament.

A complete list of the players and standings is listed below:

2007 SWAC Women's Soccer Preseason All-Conference Honors

Cherie Silas, Grambling State GK 5'8 So. Fontana, California

Madelyn Pittman, Alabama A&M D 5'6 So. Oregonian, Ohio

Kate Johnston, Mississippi Valley State D 5'5 So. Ontario, Canada

Jamika Pugh, Southern University D 5'4 Jr. Vacaville, California

Rachel Sepeng, Alabama A&M M 5'4 Sr. Pretoria, South Africa

Natasha Nzeakor, Grambling State M 5'8 Sr. Ontario, Canada

Germaine Tuckett, Jackson State M 5'1 Sr. Virginia Beach, VA

Almarie Soto-Ortiz, Southern University M 5'3 Jr. Hopemills, NC

Alberta Annan, Alabama A&M F 5'5 Sr. Accra, Ghana

Belinda Kanda, Alabama A&M F 5'6 Sr. Accra, Ghana

Dana Eddy, Mississippi Valley State F 5'3 Sr. British Columbia, Canada

Predicted Order of Finish

(first-place votes in parenthesis)

Western Division

Grambling State (13) 83 pts

Southern University (1) 58 pts

Prairie View A&M (1) 57 pts

Texas Southern 36 pts

Arkansas-Pine Bluff 21 pts

Eastern Division

Alabama A&M (9) 74 pts

Mississippi Valley State (4) 69 pts

Jackson State (1) 53 pts

Alabama State (1) 39 pts

Alcorn State 20 pts