NEW ORLEANS – University of South Alabama juniors Gracie Wilson and Morgan Cross were named to the preaseason all-conference team Monday as announced by the league office. Additionally, the Jaguars were picked by the league coaches to win the Sun Belt receiving eight of 11 first place votes. 

This is Wilson's second consecutive year as a preseason all-conference selection, while it marks the first selection for Cross who was named the Sun Belt Tournament Most Outstanding Player last fall after scoring a pair of goals against Arkansas State to help the Jags win their seventh tournament title.

Wilson started in 23 of the 24 matches she played in last season while netting six goals, two of those being game-winning goals while Cross recorded seven goals, seven assists and 21 points.

Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll 
(First-place votes in parentheses)

1. South Alabama (8) – 117
2. Arkansas State (2) – 110
3. Georgia State – 93
4. Coastal Carolina – 81
5. Louisiana (1) – 80
6. Texas State – 58
7. Little Rock – 53
8. App State – 46
9. Georgia Southern – 31
10. ULM – 29
11. Troy – 28

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Sarah Sodoma, Arkansas State (Sr., F – Manchester, Mo.) 

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Megan McClure, Arkansas State (Sr., GK – Webster Groves, Mo.) 

Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
F – Sarah Sodoma, Arkansas State (Sr. – Manchester, Mo.) 
F – Morgan Cross, South Alabama (Jr. – Dunfermline, Scotland) 
F – Jimena Cabrero, Georgia State (Jr. – Santander, Spain) 
F – Marcela Montoya, Georgia Southern (Gr. – Cape Coral, Fla.) 
MF – Lizzie Mayfield, Louisiana (Sr. – Atlanta, Ga.) 
MF – Gracie Wilson, South Alabama (Jr. – Conyers, Ga.) 
MF – Jolie Ryff, Georgia State (Jr. – Fayetteville, Ga.) 
D – Mackenzie Cherry, Coastal Carolina (Sr. – Canton, Ga.) 
D – Hailey Cloud, Arkansas State (Fr. – Union, Mo.) 
D – Kamree Holloway, Georgia State (Jr. – Carrollton, Ga.) 
GK – Megan McClure, Arkansas State (Sr. – Webster Groves, Mo.) 

Head coach Richard Moodie
- On Wilson and Cross: "It's an honor for the student-athletes. They're our two captains and they deserve it. Looking back at the seasons they've had and their involvement shows that."

Gracie Wilson
- On being named to the preseason all-conference team: "It's exciting to be recognized by the conference and to go into this season with that recognition. It's encouraging to know that the work I'm putting in is being seen. I'm excited to lead the team into this season."

Morgan Cross
- On being named to the preseason all-conference team: "It feels great to be recognized by the conference, I'm looking forward to this season and getting things going again."

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

Join the Upper 90 Club, the soccer specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All gifts to the Upper 90 Club go directly to support the South Alabama soccer program. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/upper90
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