Soccer Picked Second, Four Named To Preseason All-Sunbelt Team
The four preseason selections were the most garnered by any team in the league this year and the highest total by TXST since joining the league.
NEW ORLEANS – Coming off its best finish since joining the Sunbelt Conference, the Texas State soccer team was picked to finish second in the Sunbelt Preseason Coaches’ Poll and had four players named to the all-conference team that was announced on Wednesday.
Representing the Bobcats on the Preseason All-Sunbelt Team were juniors Kaylee Davis, Jordan Kondikoff, Heather Martin and Genesis Turman. The four preseason selections were the most garnered by any team in the league this year and the highest total by TXST since joining the league.
Davis and Martin were both 2017 All-Sun Belt First Team selections and Kondikoff was named to the second team. This is the first conference recognition for Turman.
Last season saw Davis score a team-high seven goals during conference play, the most among returning Sun Belt players in 2018. Three times the Allen, Texas native netted two goals in a match and twice scored the match-winning tally. She paced the Bobcats with 49 shots and 21 shots on goal in her first year with the team.
Martin concluded last season with a 1.05 GAA, 60 saves and a .811 save percentage. In 10 conference matches she made 44 stops and led the league with five shutouts, which occurred in consecutive contests. The Midlothian, Texas native enters the 2018 season ranked in the top 10 in program history in saves, save percentage, wins and goalie minutes played.
Kondikoff leads all Bobcat returners with four assists. The scrappy defensive midfielder recorded a career-high two assists last season in a double overtime victory versus Northwestern State. Her 28 shots rank second among the team’s returners.
Turman enters this season having started all 35 possible matches of her collegiate career at right back. During her first two years she has helped TXST record 11 shutouts that included tying a program record with five straight in 2017. The Allen, Texas native has posted two goals, two assists and 30 shot attempts in her career.
In the preseason poll, the Bobcats totaled 97 points with two first-place votes. It is the highest projected finish, point total and most first-place votes for the program since becoming a Sun Belt member in 2013.
Selected to finish first for the fifth consecutive year was South Alabama with 117 points and seven first-place selections. Coming in five points behind Texas State for third was Troy. Little Rock finished with 82 points to edge out Coastal Carolina, which received a first-place vote, by a point for fourth.
Both Arkansas State and Georgia Southern finished tied for sixth with 65 points apiece. The Red Wolves earned the 11th and final first-place selection. Rounding out the poll was Appalachian State (42 pts), Georgia State (33 pts), Louisiana (29 pts) and ULM (23 pts).
The Bobcats are coming off a 10-6-1 campaign and a second-place finish with an 8-2 record. It was the best finish since joining the league in 2013. They return Jamie Brown, Holly Streber and the four preseason all-conference selections.
On Saturday, TXST travels to Incarnate Word for an exhibition match. The regular season starts on Aug. 17 at Louisiana Tech before returning home two days later to face I-35 rival UTSA. All three contests will kickoff at 7 p.m.
2018 Sun Belt Women’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team
Arola Aparicio Gili (Little Rock, Senior, Forward) *
Kory Dixon (South Alabama, Junior, Forward) **
Kaylee Davis (Texas State, Junior, Forward) *
Doro Greulich (Little Rock, Junior, Midfielder) *
Monique Hundley (Georgia State, Senior, Midfielder)
Jordan Kondikoff (Texas State, Junior, Midfielder) **
Liesa Seifert (Little Rock, Senior, Defender) **
Hannah Godfrey (South Alabama, Senior, Defender) *
Genesis Turman (Texas State, Junior, Defender)
Kelsey Ponder (Arkansas State, Senior, Goalkeeper) **
Heather Martin (Texas State, Junior, Goalkeeper) *
* Denotes 2017 All-Sun Belt First Team | ** Denotes 2017 All-Sun Belt Second Team
2018 Sun Belt Women’s Soccer Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Kory Dixon (South Alabama, Junior, Forward) **
2018 Sun Belt Women’s Soccer Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Hannah Godfrey (South Alabama, Senior, Defender) *
2018 Sun Belt Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Preseason Poll
first-place votes in parentheses
1. South Alabama (7) – 117 pts
2. Texas State (2) – 97 pts
3. Troy – 92 pts
4. Little Rock – 82 pts
5. Coastal Carolina (1) – 81 pts
6T. Arkansas State (1) – 65 pts
6T. Georgia Southern – 65 pts
8. Appalachian State – 42 pts
9. Georgia State – 33 pts
10. Louisiana – 29 pts
11. ULM – 23 pts
For more information on the Texas State soccer team, visit the official website of Texas State Athletics at www.txstatebobcats.com, like on Facebook at Texas State Soccer and follow on Instagram and Twitter at @TxStateSoccer.
