NEW ORLEANS – The University of South Alabama soccer program, the reigning Sun Belt Conference Tournament champion, was voted to win the regular season crown and two players were named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team, the league announced Monday morning.

Junior Nini Rabsatt-Smith (Montgomery, Ala.) and sophomore Monique Autmon (Ocean Springs, Miss.) were tabbed to the all-conference team as a defender and midfielder, respectively.

The Jaguars received 98 points and nine of 10 first-place votes. Louisiana-Lafayette earned 81 points and the other first-place nod. Georgia State is third with 73 points, Texas State is fourth with 67 points, and league newcomer Appalachian State fifth with 59.

Arkansas State (54 points), Troy (46), Georgia Southern (30), Arkansas-Little Rock (26) and Louisiana-Monroe (16) round out the poll.

Rabsatt-Smith's recognition comes after she was named to the 2013 Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament team, where she played a huge part in the USA defense allowing just one goal in 290 minutes to lead the team to its first SBC Tournament title in school history. She started 21 times last season and recorded two goals, four assists and eight points.

Autmon made 21 starts and appeared in all 23 matches as a freshmen while ranking in a tie for fifth on the team with three goals. Two of those three goals came against league competition, and she played a big part in the Jags ranking second in the league in both shutouts (nine) and goals against average (1.01).

South Alabama begins its quest for the Sun Belt title Friday at home against UAB.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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SBC Preseason All-Conference Team
Loren Mitchell (Arkansas State, Junior, Forward)
Ashley Nagy (Georgia State, Junior, Forward)
Annika Schmidt (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sophomore, Forward)
Lynsey Curry (Texas State, Junior, Forward)
Yazmin Montoya (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sophomore, Midfielder)
Samhia Simao (Arkansas State, Senior, Midfielder)
Monique Autmon (South Alabama, Sophomore, Midfielder)
Grace Howell-Harries (Louisiana-Lafayette, Senior, Defender)
Nini Rabsatt-Smith (South Alabama, Junior, Defender)
Brenna Smith (Texas State, Senior, Defender)
Brie Haynes (Georgia State, Sophomore, Goalkeeper)
 
SBC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Ashley Nagy (Georgia State, Junior, Forward)
 
SBC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Grace Howell-Harries (Louisiana-Lafayette, Senior, Defender)
 
2014 Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Poll (first-place votes in parentheses)
1. SOUTH ALABAMA (9) - 98pts
2. Louisiana-Lafayette (1) - 81pts
3. Georgia State - 73pts
4. Texas State - 67pts
5. Appalachian State - 59pts
6. Arkansas State - 54pts
7. Troy - 46pts
8. Georgia Southern - 30pts
9. Arkansas-Little Rock - 26pts
10. Louisiana-Monroe - 16pts