Asbury women's soccer enters their second season behind the leadership of head coach
with a Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) No. 6 preseason ranking.
AU will open the year at Berea College on August 30 on the road at 5 pm in Berea, Ky. The Eagles have seven home matches scheduled for the 2024 season, four of those CCS matchups.
All six of the 2023 Asbury women's soccer leading goal-scorers return in 2024, Caroline Absher,
with two goals apiece. Absher, Long, and Bolton were all named NCCAA Mideast All-Region in 2023 for their play.
return for the Eagles after freshman campaigns in the top-five on the team for minutes played.
Entering the 2024 season with momentum, Maryville is coming off their first-ever CCS Women's Soccer Championship in 2023. Their remarkable journey culminated in a nail-biting 2-1 victory over Covenant in the championship match.
Belhaven follows closely in the poll, securing the second spot with 52 points. The Blazers are eager to build on their strong 2023 season, where they finished 13-4-2 overall with an impressive 7-1 conference record, advancing to the conference tournament semifinals.
Piedmont claims the third spot with 49 points, returning key players like all-conference representatives Sierra Judson and Paige Kluba. Covenant, determined to bounce back after last season's championship heartbreak, follows closely in fourth place with 48 points.
Huntingdon rounds out the top five with 33 points, while Asbury makes their debut in sixth place with 28 points. LaGrange, Agnes Scott, and Wesleyan complete the poll, reflecting the intense competition within the league.
As the 2024 season approaches, anticipation is building for what promises to be another exciting chapter in CCS women's soccer.
Conference play kicks off on Thursday, September 26, with teams across the league vying for supremacy. The road to the title will culminate in the 2024 CCS Women's Soccer Championship Tournament, featuring the top six teams, beginning on Saturday, November 2, with the championship match set for Saturday, November 9.
Below is a look at the 2024 CCS Women's Soccer Preseason Poll. First-place votes are in parentheses:
2024 CCS WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
- Maryville – 63 points (7)
- Belhaven – 52 points (1)
- Piedmont – 49 points
- Covenant – 48 points (1)
- Huntingdon – 33 points
- Asbury – 28 points
- LaGrange – 26 points
- Agnes Scott – 15 points
- Wesleyan – 10 points
Read the full story released by the CCS with this link.
ABOUT THE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE OF THE SOUTH (CCS)
The CCS is an NCAA Division III athletic conference that began play during the 2022-23 academic year. The conference features nine members institutions (Agnes Scott College, Asbury University, Belhaven University, Covenant College, Huntingdon College, LaGrange College, Maryville College, Piedmont University, and Wesleyan College) and sponsors championships across 14 sports. In addition to sharing the member institutions' geographic identity, the name 'Collegiate Conference of the South' is indicative of a shared commitment to academic excellence, which is commensurate with the NCAA Division III philosophy.
Follow all things #CCSWSOC and #CCSMSOC on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram at @ccofsouth for all the latest news around the league.