SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Samford soccer team was picked to finish second in the Southern Conference, and three Bulldogs were named to the preseason All-SoCon team, released by the league Thursday afternoon.
 
Samford received 76 points in the poll, voted on by the league's head coaches, just one point behind preseason favorite UNCG. The Bulldogs received four first-place votes, while UNCG garnered six first-place nods. Samford was followed by Furman (66 pts.), ETSU (50), Mercer (47), Chattanooga (42), Western Carolina (41), The Citadel (23), Wofford (17) and VMI (11).
 
Samford's three representatives on the preseason All-SoCon team were junior forward Caroline Orman, senior defender Taylor Meneide and junior defender Taylore Miller. Samford's three players on the team are tied with UNCG for the most of any team in the league.
 
Orman ranked second on the team last year in goals scored with four, and in points with nine. Miller and Meneide both started all 19 games last season and were two of the leaders of a defense that allowed just four goals in the team's nine SoCon matches.
 
Samford returns six starters from a team that went 12-6-1 overall and 8-0-1 in SoCon play in 2018. The Bulldogs earned the program's fifth-straight SoCon regular season title.
 
Samford will play an exhibition match at Troy Friday evening at 7 p.m. The team opens its regular season with a home match against cross-town rival UAB on Thursday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m. at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium. Admission to all home matches is free.
 
2019 Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. UNCG (6)                77
2. Samford (4)             76
3. Furman                    66
4. ETSU                      50
5. Mercer                     47
6. Chattanooga           42
7. Western Carolina    41    
8. The Citadel             23
9. Wofford                  17
10. VMI                      11
() denotes first-place votes

2019 Women's Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team
F    Sarah Connolly, ETSU
F    Cienna Rideout, UNCG
F    Caroline Orman, Samford
F    Chloe Arnold, Chattanooga
MF Isabella Gutierrez, Furman
MF Caitlyn Reilly, Furman
MF Abigail Zoeller, Mercer
D    Marissa Ferrantino, UNCG
D    Taylor Meneide, Samford
D    Taylore Miller, Samford
GK  Aiyanah Tyler-Cooper, UNCG