Women's Soccer Ranked No. 16 in Preseason Poll

LAKELAND - Under the direction of Head Coach Bill Read, the Polk State College women's soccer team (with new team name: the Eagles) will open the 2011 season ranked 16th nationally, according to the preseason coaches' poll released Tuesday by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

Paradise Valley Community College (AZ) tops the poll as the defending champions, followed by runner-up Tyler Junior College (TX), Iowa Western Community College, Georgia Perimeter College and Laramie County Community College (WY). Monroe Community College (NY), Lewis & Clark Community College (IL), Darton College (GA), Harford Community College (MD) and Western Texas College round out the top 10. Two of Polk's opponents for the upcoming season are nationally ranked. In their second game of the season, Polk will host No. 7 Lewis & Clark Community College on Sept. 2. The Eagles will then travel to Atlanta, Georgia, to take on their district rival and nationally ranked No. 4 Georgia Perimeter College on Oct. 22.

The Eagles finished the 2010 campaign with a 9-4-1 record, earning the program's 7th NJCAA Region 8 title as well as being the runner up in NJCAA District F. The Eagles finished the year ranked 15th nationally in both the NJCAA and NSCAA final postseason poll. The team returns with 2010 All-Region 8 First Team selection Gloria Gomez and sophomores Erica Resendez and Megan Howard.