Coaches, SIDs pick Redhawks third

The Ohio Valley Conference released its preseason women's soccer poll Friday and Southeast Missouri State has been picked to finish third.

Southeast received one first-place vote and 128 total points in voting by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

The Redhawks finished with a 5-3-1 conference record last year, which tied them for third in the 10-team league. Southeast, 13-6-1 overall, lost to Eastern Illinois 1-0 in the semifinals of the OVC tournament.

Southeast returns eight starters, including senior goalkeeper Lindsay Pickering, the 2005 OVC defensive player of the year after leading the league in shutouts (11) while ranking among the conference's top 10 in goals-against average (0.58), save percentage (.826) and saves (57).

Samford is the favorite to win its fourth consecutive OVC regular-season title after capturing the league tournament crown for the first time last year.

The Bulldogs (15-4-4, 7-2 OVC), who last season became the first soccer team in OVC history to advance past the first round of the NCAA tournament, welcomes back all 11 starters. Samford received 17 of 20 first-place votes and 161 points.

Eastern Illinois was picked second after finishing in that spot last year. The Panthers nabbed two first-place votes and 140 points.

Murray State and Jacksonville State round out the preseason top five.

Southeast will begin its season Aug. 25 at home against Arkansas-Little Rock.