Murray State University Athletics
Racer Soccer Picked 4th In Ohio Valley Poll
8/11/2006 3:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The Murray State women's soccer team was picked fourth in this year's preseason Ohio Valley Conference coaches' poll.
In 2005, the Racers were tabbed sixth, but finished fourth and made it all the way to the OVC Tournament semifinals.
The Racers scored 103 points in the survey of the OVC head coaches and sports information directors. Team received nine points for every first-place vote, eight points for a second-place vote, etc.
Defending OVC Tournament champion Samford, which has won each of the last three regular-season titles, was picked first with 17 first-place votes and 161 total points. Eastern Illinois, which had its streak of four straight OVC Tournament titles broken by Samford last November, was picked second with two first-place votes and 140 total points.
Southeast Missouri was picked third with 128 points, followed by MSU, Jacksonville State with 100 points, Austin Peay with 88 points, Tennessee Tech with 55 points, Morehead State with 49 points; UT Martin with 48 points and Eastern Kentucky with 28 points.
Long before she coaches her first contest in the OVC, when the Racers play at Southeast Missouri on Sept. 22, Acreman knows what the league is all about.
"Having been in the Sun Belt for the last several seasons, I can tell you the OVC has a reputation as an excellent soccer league," Acreman said. "The way I see it right now, there is parity; there's little difference between the top and the bottom.
"The conference season will be a battle each time out," Acreman added. "There are no easy games. I would say just about every team in the OVC feels they have a chance to win the championship."
Murray State begins its 2006 season on Aug. 25 at IUPUI. The Racers open their home schedule on Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. against Indiana State.
Here is a breakdown of the 2006 OVC Soccer preseason poll:
Team Pts 05 Overall/OVC record
1. Samford (17) 161 15-5-4 (7-2-0)
2. Eastern Illinois (2) 140 9-10-2 (6-1-2)
3. SE Missouri (1) 128 13-6-1 (5-3-1)
4. Murray State 103 8-10-3 (5-3-1)
5. Jacksonville State 100 8-9-2 (4-4-1)
6. Austin Peay 88 9-10-0 (5-4-0)
7. Tennessee Tech 55 6-11-2 (3-5-1)
8. Morehead State 49 6-11-2 (3-6-0)
9. Tennessee-Martin 48 9-10-0 (3-6-0)
10. Eastern Kentucky 28 1-14-1 (1-8-0)
First-place votes in parentheses
