DeLand, Fla. - The Atlantic Sun Conference has released its 2010 Preseason All-Conference Team and Preseason Poll for women's soccer. For the second consecutive season Tessa Gavilsky was the lone all-conference choice from Stetson. The senior out of Granite City, Illinois finished last season with a league-high 11 goals and 30 points. She was also second in assists with eight. Although Gavilsky comes into 2010 as the two-time defending conference scoring champ, as well as A-Sun Player of the Year, she was not selected as this season's preseason player of the year. That honor went to junior Jessica Hurtado from Jacksonville University.
On Saturday Top Drawer Soccer listed the Top-20 players to watch from each Division I conference and Gavilsky was listed #1 in the Atlantic Sun Conference (http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer/college-conference-top-20/women).
As a team Stetson was picked to finish sixth by the conference head coaches. Kennesaw State was selected to finish first in the regular season and win the conference tournament. Stetson finished last season in 3rd place, just one point out of the top spot. The Hatters entered the 2009 conference tournament as the #3 seed and defeated #6 Campbell 2-1 in the opening round before falling 1-0 to #2 Belmont in the semifinals. Stetson opens the regular season on Friday, August 20 when Florida Atlantic comes to the Stetson Soccer Complex for a 7:00 p.m. game. On Sunday August 22 the Hatters will host the Miami Hurricanes at 1:00 p.m.
Preseason All-Atlantic Sun Team
Pos. Name (Class) School
GK Sari Lin (Jr.) Belmont
D Kacie Hudson (Sr.) Mercer
D KC Correllus (Jr.) FGCU
D Jessica Rix (Sr.) Belmont
MF * Jessica Hurtado (Jr.) Jacksonville
MF Olivia Tucker (Jr.) Mercer
MF Jayme Trocino (Sr.) Belmont
MF/F * Tessa Gavilsky (Sr.) Stetson
F Erica Carter (Sr.) Belmont
F Kristin Marietta (Jr.) Kennesaw State
F Eva Leeper (So.) Jacksonville
* - Unanimous Selection
Preseason Player of the Year: Jessica Hurtado, MF, Jacksonville
Atlantic Sun Preseason Poll
Pl. School (1st) Points
1. Kennesaw State (8) 117
2. FGCU (1) 100
3. Belmont (2) 96
T4. Jacksonville 80
T4. Mercer 80
6. Stetson 74
7. Campbell 55
8. ETSU 45
9. UNF 44
10. Lipscomb 22
11. USC Upstate 13
Tournament Champion: Kennesaw State (11 votes)
