NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion University women’s soccer team was picked to finish fifth in the Conference USA Preseason Poll, as voted on by league’s head coaches. ODU sophomore Iris Achterhof (Groningen, Netherlands) was named to the 2016 All-Conference Preseason Team.
Old Dominion head coach Angie Hind and the Lady Soccer Monarchs finished last season with a 5-4-1 mark in Conference USA play and advanced to the C-USA tournament for the first time in program history, where they upset the No. 3 seeded FAU to continue on to the semifinals. ODU finished the year with an 8-12-1 overall record.
After being named the 2015 C-USA Freshman of the Year, Achterhof was named to the 2016 All-Conference Preseason Team. In 2015, she also was named to the C-USA All-Conference Second Team and was the VaSID Rookie of the Year, while earning VaSID All-State Second Team honors. Achterhof earned a spot on the C-USA Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team a season ago. She led the Lady Monarchs with 21 points and eight goals as a freshman, while racking up five assists and scoring three-game winners in 21 games started.
The Lady Soccer Monarchs will host VMI on Aug. 10 for their first exhibition, before traveling to Towson on Aug. 13 for the second and final exhibition. Old Dominion will open up the 2016 regular season at George Mason on Aug. 19. ODU will have its regular season home opener on Aug. 21 against Richmond.
2016 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE USA TEAM
Name (School/Year/Pos./Hometown)
Martha Thomas (Charlotte/Jr./MF/Weston, Florida)
Erica Burt (Florida Atlantic/Sr./D/Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida)
Sydney Drinkwater (Florida Atlantic/Sr./GK/Merritt Island, Florida)
Kathryn Sloan (Louisiana Tech/Sr./F/Kansas City, Missouri)
Sydney Arnold (Marshall/Sr./MF/Stafford, Virginia)
Cameron Cox (Middle Tennessee/Jr./MF/Roswell, Georgia)
Rachel Holden (North Texas/Sr./F/Lancaster, Texas)
Iris Achterhof (Old Dominion/So./F/Groningen, Netherlands)
Samantha Chaiken (Rice/Jr./MF/Dallas, Texas)
Jenny Fichera (Rice/Sr./D/Ann Arbor, Michigan)
Jasmine Isokpunwu (Rice/Sr./D/Austin, Texas)
Aleah Davis (UTEP/Sr./D/MF/Hewitt, Texas)
Hannah Chua (WKU/Jr./MF/Claremont, California)
2016 C-USA PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Martha Thomas, Charlotte, Jr., MF
2016 C-USA PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Erica Burt, Florida Atlantic, Sr., D
Jasmine Isokpunwu, Rice, Sr., D
Aleah Davis, UTEP, Sr., D/MF
2016 C-USA PRESEASON POLL
(as selected by C-USA coaches)
1. North Texas
2. Rice
3. Florida Atlantic
4. Marshall
5t. Old Dominion
Middle Tennessee
7. Charlotte
8. WKU
9. FIU
10. UTEP
11. Louisiana Tech
12. UAB
13. Southern Miss
14. UTSA
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A GREAT DEAL - VOUCHER BOOKS
Now available are the 2016 ODU Soccer voucher books for $25. With each voucher book fans receive 20 ticket vouchers that can be redeemed at any home women’s (or men's) soccer match throughout the 2016 season. The vouchers can be redeemed in any quantity and represent a 75% savings over purchasing general admission tickets at the gate. Also included for the first 200 purchasers is an official ODU soccer scarf. Voucher books may be purchased at this time by CLICKING HERE or by calling the ODU Ticket Office at 757-683-7087. Books may also be purchased on entry at any home match.
The soccer voucher books make great gifts, are perfect for youth teams or those attending in groups, and for families and fans planning to attend several matches this season. The women’s soccer slate features 10 home matches with several non-conference opponents with regional appeal, including Richmond, VCU, William & Mary and East Carolina.
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