University of Memphis Athletics
Memphis Chosen C-USA Women's Soccer Preseason Favorite
Aug 12, 2008 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 12, 2008
IRVING, Texas - Defending C-USA champion Memphis has been selected by the league's coaches as the preseason favorite to be the Conference USA women's soccer champion in 2008.
The Lady Tigers are coming off their first conference title and first NCAA Women's Soccer Championship appearance. Memphis returns three all-conference selections from a team that earned a school-record 17 wins (17-4-1) in 2007. Sophomore midfielder Vendula Strnadova, last season's C-USA Freshman of the Year and all-conference first team selection, was voted onto the C-USA preseason squad along with teammates Kylie Hayes and Emiko Schwab. The pair of seniors both earned all-conference second team honors last season. Memphis also ties with Colorado College for the most players on the All-Conference USA team, both placing three on the list.
Senior forward Kylie Hayes leads Memphis into the 2008 season as the leader in career goals for the Lady Tiger soccer program. She earned 2007 second team All-C-USA accolades. Hayes, the third-leading goal scorer in the conference last season, leads the way for a Lady Tiger offense that led C-USA in goals, goals per game, shots and points categories in 2007.
Senior midfielder and 2007 team MVP Emiko Schwab earned several honors for her outstanding play last season and is expected to bring the same effort and intensity to the field in 2008. Schwab was the second-leading scorer on the team with 19 points. She earned second team All-C-USA honors, as well as earning a place on the All-C-USA Championship team. She also earned NSCAA All-Central Region second team honors.
Sophomore Vendula Strnadova was a great addition to the Lady Tigers last season. As a freshman, she played in all 22 matches while netting six goals on the year. She was voted the Conference USA Freshman of the Year and was the only freshman to be named to the C-USA first team. Soccer Buzz named Strnadova to its All-America second team as well as Central Region first team and Central Region Freshman of the Year. NSCAA/adidas named her to the All-Central Region second team. She was also named newcomer of the year by her teammates.
Colorado College junior forward Emily Beans and teammate Molly Uyenishi, a senior defender, were named the preseason C-USA Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively.
The top eight teams at the conclusion of the regular season earn a spot in the 2008 Conference USA Championship, hosted by Rice, on Nov. 5-9 in Houston, Texas. The league's 14th season kicks off Friday, Aug. 22.
The following is the list of the 2008 preseason awards announced by Conference USA
2008 C-USA PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Emily Beans, Jr., F, Colorado College (Griffith, Ind.)
2008 C-USA PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Molly Uyenishi, Sr., D, Colorado College (Hawthorn Woods, Ill.)
2008 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE USA TEAM
Emily Beans, Jr., F, Colorado College (Griffith, Ind.)
Tiffany Brown, So., F, Colorado College (Sterling, Va.)
Molly Uyenishi, Sr., D, Colorado College (Hawthorn Woods, Ill.)
Amber Campbell, Sr., GK, East Carolina (Frederick, Md.)
Kylie Hayes, Sr., F, Memphis (Piqua, Ohio)
Emiko Schwab, Sr., MF, Memphis (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
Vendula Strnadova, So., MF, Memphis (Las Cruces, N.M.)
Sarah McFadden, Sr., F, Southern Miss (Magherfelt, Northern Ireland)
Nikki Moore, Jr.., D, UCF (Virginia Beach, Va.)
Hanna Wilde, Sr., MF/F, UCF (Westlake, Ohio)
Kate Edwards, So., MF, Rice (Westlake, Ohio)
