August 24, 2005
Lady Monarchs picked second in 2005 USA South preseason women’s soccer poll

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The USA South Athletic Conference released its 2005 preseason women’s soccer poll on Wednesday, and the Methodist Monarchs were picked second in the eight-team race. Methodist received 42 points and one first place vote in the poll taken by the head women’s soccer coaches in the USA South.

The Monarchs finished behind defending USA South champion Christopher Newport, which was picked as the preseason favorite with 49 points and seven first place votes. Greensboro was picked third with 38 points, followed by North Carolina Wesleyan (28), Ferrum (24), Shenandoah (23), Averett (12) and Peace (eight).

Head coach Bobby Graham enters his seventh season at Methodist, and the Lady Monarchs return seven starters off last season’s team that finished 12-7-2 overall and advanced to the USA South Tournament Championship game. Methodist opens the 2005 season with the InnKeeper/Methodist Invitational on Sept. 3-4 at Monarch Soccerplex.