Aug. 22, 2007

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina women's soccer team was picked to finish fourth in the Southern Conference Preseason Poll as released by the conference office on Wednesday. Also, senior midfielder Heather Dittmer was named to the preseason All-SoCon team.

Both the preseason poll and the 12-member all-conference team were picked by the league's 11 head coaches.

Dittmer is one of 10 players named to the preseason team who earned all-conference accolades following the 2006 season. The Marietta, Ga., native led the team in points (12), goals (5), shots (53) and shots on goal (23). She was also fifth in the Southern Conference in shots taken, averaging 2.52 per game. In addition to her conference honors, Dittmer was named to the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) All-State Soccer Team. Dittmer enters her senior season tied for eighth on the WCU careers list in with 13 goals and 34 points.

Defending regular season and tournament champions UNC Greensboro was selected to repeat on top of the conference standings, picking up eight of a possible 11 first-place votes. Furman, who tallied two first place votes, was chosen to finish second, and third-place Davidson garnered the final first place vote.

Behind the Catamounts, the fifth place selection College of Charleston narrowly edged out Appalachian State and Georgia Southern. Elon and Wofford were the eighth and ninth selections, respectively, while Chattanooga and The Citadel rounded out the poll.

In addition to their top billing in the polls, the Spartans led the way with four players selected to the preseason all-conference team. Runner-up Furman was second in the number of players selected as well, with three, followed by Davidson with two.

Western Carolina made its third-ever appearance among preseason rankings by Soccer Buzz Magazine this season, coming in as the fourth team listed in the others receiving votes category, placing them 19th out of 54 teams in the Southeast region

The team will travel to Greenville, N.C., Saturday, Aug. 25, to face East Carolina in scrimmage that will be the final tune-up for the teams before the regular season. The Catamounts then travel to Laramie, Wyoming, to open the season against the Cowgirls of the University of Wyoming on Aug. 31. They then stay out west for a match against the University of Northern Colorado on Sept. 2.

Catamount fans will get a chance to see the team in action at home for the first time on Sept. 7 when the Lady Eagles of Winthrop visit the Catamount Athletic Complex for a 7 p.m. contest.

2007 Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. UNC Greensboro (8) 98
2. Furman (2) 86
3. Davidson (1) 80
4. Western Carolina 74
5. College of Charleston 68
6. Appalachian State 57
7. Georgia Southern 43
8. Elon 39
9. Wofford 28
10. Chattanooga 22
11. The Citadel 10