AUM News
Following the third appearance in the NAIA National Tournament last season, AUM is 13th in the 2010 preseason poll.
Following the third appearance in the NAIA National Tournament last season, AUM is 13th in the 2010 preseason poll.
Women's Soccer - Wed. Aug. 18, 2010
KANSAS CITY, Mo. ---- Following the third postseason appearance in the program's history, the Auburn University at Montgomery women's soccer team has been voted 13th in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Coaches' Preseason Top-25 Poll, which was released on Wednesday.

The Lady Senators received 365 total votes in the poll and are one of three Southern States Athletic Conference members in the top-25. Two-time defending national champion Lee University earned the top spot in the polls, receiving 20 of 22 first-place votes, while William Carey University was selected ninth in the poll. The University of Mobile, Faulkner University and Brenau University, all members of the SSAC, were among the others receiving votes.
 
"I am thrilled about the national recognition that our players have earned," first-year head coach Jamey Newsome said. "Obviously, Hope Clark (formerly Hope Handley) deserves a great deal of credit for putting this team together.  We now understand that we will play every match with a target on our back and will need to be prepared for everyone.  I look forward to the challenge of the upcoming season."
 
National runner-up Point Loma Nazarene checked in at the No. 2 spot with 586 total points, while Concordia (Ore.) was third with 572 total points. Lindsey Wilson, which earned the remaining two first-place votes, was fourth with 569 points, while Azusa Pacific rounded out the top five with 552 total points.
 
AUM returns 16 players from its 2009 squad that finished 15-5-2 and advanced to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament.
 
Highlighting the returners are senior goalkeeper Daisy Burnfield, senior forward Amber Elam, senior defender Christine DeVito, sophomore defender Dixie Robinson and sophomore midfielder Helga Franklinsdottir, all of whom were first-team All-SSAC selections last season.
 
Burnfield was selected the SSAC's Newcomer of the Year and finished her first season with the Lady Senators with 99 saves, a total good for fourth in the conference. She allowed less than a goal per match, while logging better than 1,900 minutes in goal.
 
Elam paced the Lady Senators in goals (16), assists (11) and points (43) in 2009. Elam, a Second-Team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, also led the team with 133 shots, including a team-leading 74 on goal.
 
DeVito, also a Second-Team All American by the NSCAA, and Robinson anchored a defensive unit that allowed just 22 goals during the 2009 season. In addition, AUM limited its opponents to only 234 shots, compared to 461 for its offense.
 
Franklinsdottir was tied for fourth on the team in points last season, scoring 15 points on seven goals and one assist. Her seven goals was the fourth-best total on the squad, while her 38 shots ranked fifth on the Lady Senators.
 
AUM will open the season on Saturday, August 28, when it hosts Brewton-Parker in the AUM Fall Kickoff Classic at 1 p.m. The Lady Senators will also square off with Shorter on Sunday, August 29 in the tournament.
 
COMPLETE POLL
Team (first-place votes) - Total Votes
1. Lee (20) - 621
2. Point Loma Nazarene - 586
3. Concordia (Ore.) - 572
4. Lindsey Wilson (2) - 569
5. Azusa Pacific - 552
6. Martin Methodist - 515
7. Graceland - 488
8. California Baptist - 484
9. William Carey - 470
10. Indiana Wesleyan - 430
11. McKendree - 419
12. Vanguard - 417
13. Auburn University at Montgomery - 365
14. California State University - San Marcos - 326
15. Olivet Nazarene - 323
16. Marian - 288
17. Baker - 259
18. Simon Fraser - 256
19. John Brown - 236
20. Trinity Christian - 227
21. College of Idaho - 204
22. Houghton - 158
23. The Master's College - 146
24. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical - 134
25. Oklahoma City University - 118