Birmingham, Ala. -

Three Alabama A&M Bulldogs have earned preseason all-SWAC women’s soccer honors. Belinda Kanda, Patricia Ofori, and Brittan Thomas have all been named to the first team.

In the predicted order of finish, Jackson State and Grambling State were picked to win their respective divisions.  In the Western Division, Grambling State garnered ten first-place votes en route to 83 voting points.  Southern (six first-place votes) was second with 74 points while Prairie View A&M (four first-place votes) was third with 64 points.  Arkansas-Pine Bluff (40 pts) and Texas Southern (36 pts) rounded out the division.  In the Eastern Division, Jackson State was chosen first with nine first-place votes as they received 83 points.  Alabama A&M - defending champion - was picked second with 80 points while Mississippi Valley State (four first-place votes) received 68 points.  Alabama State (35 pts) and Alcorn State (34 pts) close out the divisional list.

2008 SWAC Preseason All-Conference Selections

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
M Naira Crimiel - Jackson State, 5-3, So., McComb, MS
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year  
D Rochelle Moncrieffe - Jackson State, 5-10, So., Coconut Creek, FL

First-Team
M Brittan Thomas - Alabama A&M, 5-5, Jr., Fayetteville, AR
M Naira Crimiel - Jackson State, 5-3, So, McComb, MS
M Almarie Soto-OrtizSouthern5-3Jr.Hopemills, NC
M Dana Eddy - Mississippi Valley State, 5-5, Sr., Calgary, Alberta
D Patricia Ofori - Alabama A&M, 5-7, Sr., Accra, Ghana
D Ashley Bailey - Mississippi Valley State, 5-9, Sr., London, Ontario
D Tiffany Cantu - Southern, 5-2, So., Dallas, TX
F Belinda Kanda - Alabama A&M, 5-6, Sr., Accra, Ghana
F Ashley Baker - Grambling State, 5-5, So., El Paso, TX
F Zachene Crooks - Jackson State, 5-4, Sr., Westmoreland, Jamaica
GK Cherie Silas - Grambling State, 5-8, Jr., Fontana, CA

Second Team   
M Ashley Mitchell - Alcorn State, 5-7, Sr., Aurora, CO
M Brenda Castillo - Prairie View A&M, 5-2, So., Houston, TX
M Kate Johnston - Mississippi Valley State, 5-6, Sr., London, Ontario
M Amanda Soto-Ortiz - Southern, 5-3, So., Hopemills, NC
D Rochelle Moncrieffe - Jackson State, 5-10, So., Coconut Creek, FL
D Jamika Pugh - Southern, 5-4, Jr., Vacaville, CA
D Kendra Fox - Grambling State, 5-6, So., Allen, TX
F Angelica Diaz - Prairie View A&M, 5-9, So., Houston, TX
F Mikael Mendez - Mississippi Valley State, 5-7, Jr., Fort Worth, TX
F Pella Hand - Mississippi Valley State, 5-7, Sr., El Segunda, CA
GK Jessica Garcia - Prairie View A&M, 5-9, So., Houston, TX

STORY AD BEGINS HERE
  procad(”http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/CSTV.ALAM/SPORTS.WSOCCER.SPECREL;pos=story;sz=300×250;dcopt=ist;”,0);
 
STORY AD ENDS HERE Coaches’ Predicted Order of Finish
(first place votes in parentheses)
 
Eastern Division
Jackson State (9) - 83 pts
Alabama A&M (7) - 80
Mississippi Valley State (4) - 68
Alabama State35Arkansas-Pine Bluff - 40
Alcorn State34Texas Southern - 36

The original story was published here: http://aamusports.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/081408aad.html

Tags: alabama am, alabama am bulldogs, belinda kanda, black college soccer, brittan thomas, hbcu soccer, patricia ofori, swac