SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford senior midfielder
Fleming Dean was named preseason All-SoCon, and the Bulldogs were picked to finish second in the Southern Conference's preseason poll, released by the league Monday afternoon.
Last season, Dean played in 21 games, starting 17 contests. She tallied four goals and one assist for a total of nine points for the season.
Western Carolina is picked as the favorite to win the league, in the poll voted on by the SoCon's head coaches, with 81 points and nine first-place votes. Samford was picked second with 72 points and the one remaining first-place vote.
Samford was followed in the poll by Furman (58 pts.), Mercer (51), Chattanooga (48), UNC Greensboro (45), ETSU (43), Wofford (25), The Citadel (16) and VMI (11).
Samford will open the 2025 regular season by playing at Georgia Southern on Thursday, Aug. 14. The game is set for a 5 p.m. (CT) start from Statesboro, Ga.
2025 Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
| 1. Western Carolina (9) |
81 |
| 2. Samford (1) |
72 |
| 3. Furman |
58 |
| 4. Mercer |
51 |
| 5. Chattanooga |
48 |
| 6. UNCG |
45 |
| 7. ETSU |
43 |
| 8. Wofford |
25 |
| 9. The Citadel |
16 |
| 10. VMI |
11 |
() denotes first-place votes
2025 Women's Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team
F: Jada Moorman, Mercer
F: Isabella DeMarco, Western Carolina
F: Milla Syska, Western Carolina
MF: Rachel Poplin, UNCG
MF: Fleming Dean, Samford
MF: Ava Robitaille, Western Carolina
D: Lena Dykes, Mercer
D: Brenna Swiger, Chattanooga
D: Mary Mueth, Western Carolina
D: Abbie Wise, Western Carolina
GK: Leanne Trudel, Western Carolina
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