ATLANTA, GA (August 27, 2024) - Maryville College has surged to the top of the 2024 Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll, earning the distinction as the team to beat following a thrilling title run last season. In a vote by the league’s nine head coaches, Maryville secured 63 points, solidifying their place as the preseason favorite with seven first-place votes.
Entering the 2024 season with momentum, Maryville is coming off their first-ever CCS Women’s Soccer Championship in 2023. Their remarkable journey culminated in a nail-biting 2-1 victory over Covenant in the championship match. This success earned them an at-large bid to the 2023 NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship, where they faced Washington (Mo.) in the first round. Despite a hard-fought 2-0 loss, Maryville's resilience was on full display. Looking ahead to the new season, the Scots will lean on sophomore midfielder Madison McDonald, the 2023 CCS Rookie of the Year.
Belhaven follows closely in the poll, securing the second spot with 52 points. The Blazers are eager to build on their strong 2023 season, where they finished 13-4-2 overall with an impressive 7-1 conference record, advancing to the conference tournament semifinals. Piedmont claims the third spot with 49 points, returning key players like all-conference representatives Sierra Judson and Paige Kluba. Covenant, determined to bounce back after last season’s championship heartbreak, follows closely in fourth place with 48 points.
Huntingdon rounds out the top five with 33 points, while Asbury, a new entrant to the CCS, makes their debut in sixth place with 28 points. LaGrange, Agnes Scott, and Wesleyan complete the poll, reflecting the intense competition within the league.
As the 2024 season approaches, anticipation is building for what promises to be another exciting chapter in CCS women’s soccer. Conference play kicks off on Thursday, September 26, with teams across the league vying for supremacy. The road to the title will culminate in the 2024 CCS Women’s Soccer Championship Tournament, featuring the top six teams, beginning on Saturday, November 2, with the championship match set for Saturday, November 9.
Below is a look at the 2024 CCS Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll. First-place votes are in parentheses:
2024 CCS WOMEN’S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
- Maryville – 63 points (7)
- Belhaven – 52 points (1)
- Piedmont – 49 points
- Covenant – 48 points (1)
- Huntingdon – 33 points
- Asbury – 28 points
- LaGrange – 26 points
- Agnes Scott – 15 points
- Wesleyan – 10 points
ABOUT THE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE OF THE SOUTH (CCS)
The CCS is an NCAA Division III athletic conference that began play during the 2022-23 academic year. The conference features nine members institutions (Agnes Scott College, Asbury University, Belhaven University, Covenant College, Huntingdon College, LaGrange College, Maryville College, Piedmont University, and Wesleyan College) and sponsors championships across 14 sports. In addition to sharing the member institutions' geographic identity, the name 'Collegiate Conference of the South' is indicative of a shared commitment to academic excellence, which is commensurate with the NCAA Division III philosophy.
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