Otahks soccer team tops preseason poll

An NCAA bid alluded Southeast Missouri State University's soccer team again last season, but that didn't stop conference coaches Thursday from picking the Otahkians as the team to beat in the Ohio Valley Conference for the third straight season.

The Otahkians, who have not lost a conference game in two years, received six first-place votes and led the nine-team league with 62 points. Two-time defending OVC tournament champion Eastern Illinois was picked second with two first-place votes and 57 points. Tennessee Tech received the other first-place vote and was third with 45 points.

Conference newcomer Samford edged Murray State for fourth, and Jacksonville State rounded out the top six. Tennessee-Martin was picked seventh, and Austin Peay and Morehead State were tied for last.

Despite losing two-time defender of the year Jenny Hamilton, Southeast is loaded with experience heading into the program's fifth year. Southeast lost only Hamilton from last year's starting 11 and returns 17 letterwinners. Defending OVC Player of the Year Valerie Henderson leads a group of eight all-OVC players from last year's 14-5-1 squad.

Southeast will start the regular season on the road with a pair of games in the University of Illinois tournament. The Otahkians face Ohio on Aug. 29 in their regular season opener and make their home debut Sept. 12 against IUPUI.