BRIEFLY: EIU SOCCER PICKED TO WIN OVC

If a preseason poll of the Ohio Valley Conference women's soccer coaches is any indication, the race for the 1999 championship should be a tight one.

Eastern Illinois, second in the OVC last year, is favored to win the title this season, but just barely. The Panthers received three first-place votes and 23 total points.

Middle Tennessee is right behind with two first-place votes and 22 points while defending OVC champion Tennessee Tech got the other first-place vote and 18 points.

There was a three-way tie for fourth place between league newcomer Southeast Missouri State, Morehead State and Tennessee-Martin. All received nine points.

This will be the second season that the OVC has sponsored a women's soccer championship. The first OVC women's soccer tournament will be held Nov. 5-7 at the site of the regular-season champion.