NEW ORLEANS – The 2024 Sun Belt Conference Preseason All-Conference team and Preseason Poll were announced by the league office on Wednesday afternoon and Old Dominion was picked to win the league as voted on by the Sun Belt Conference head coaches.
Senior goalkeeper Emily Bredek and sophomore defender Ashlynn Kulha were selected to the preseason team. ODU earned seven place votes to finish on top of predicted second place finisher James Madison.
Named to the Preseason United Soccer Coaches Association Goalkeepers to Watch list last week, Bredek had a season for the record books in 2023 as she was named Sun Belt Goalkeeper of the Year, First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-Southeast Region. She appeared in 21 matches with 20 starts for the Monarchs, while logging 1,907 minutes for the season and sported a 0.52 goals against average with 56 saves and 11 shutouts. She was instrumental in the Monarchs start going over 540 minutes to begin the season without allowing a goal. Bredek set a single-season mark for shutouts (11) and save percentage (.836), while finishing in the top ten nationally in goals against average (9th) and shutouts (tied 8th).
Kulha had an impressive first season with the Monarchs as she appeared in 21 matches with 20 starts while logging 1,868 minutes for the season. She totaled 10 points for the season, with four goals and two assists. Kulha scored the game winning goal against Richmond and Georgia State in the Sun Belt Tournament, while also tallying goals against Texas State and in the NCAA Tournament against Georgetown. As a true freshman she played in almost every single minute for the Monarch back line and from a center back position had a stand-out first season helping the back line to 12 shutouts.
The Monarchs will host George Washington on Sunday at 1 p.m. in their home exhibition contest at the ODU Soccer Stadium.
2024 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Aaliyah Faddoul, Georgia State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Soleil Flores, James Madison
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
F – Amanda Attanasi, James Madison
F – Bri Conley, Georgia Southern
F – Aaliyah Faddoul, Georgia State
F – Monique Gray, South Alabama
F – Izzi Wood, App State
M – Irene Campo, South Alabama
M – Cathey Smith, Georgia Southern
M – Lexi Vanderlinden, James Madison
D – Soleil Flores, James Madison
D – Amber Fortenberry, South Alabama
D – Ashlynn Kulha, Old Dominion
GK – Emily Bredek, Old Dominion
Ties were not broken.
2024 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Old Dominion (7) – 181
- James Madison (3) – 177
- ULM – 138
T4. Georgia Southern – 134
T4. Georgia State (1) – 134
T6. App State (1) – 126
T6. South Alabama (1) – 126
- Texas State – 118
- Louisiana – 74
T10. Arkansas State – 57
T10. Southern Miss – 57
- Coastal Carolina – 55
- Marshall (1) – 48
- Troy – 45
Parentheses indicate first-place votes