COACHES PICK VCU TO FINISH FOURTH IN CAA WOMEN’S SOCCER
Rams return nine starters from 2007 CAA championship-qualifying team

RICHMOND , Va. —In a crowded field, the Virginia Commonwealth University women’s soccer team was picked to finish fourth in the 2008 Colonial Athletic Association preseason poll. William & Mary, James Madison and Hofstra, which each advanced to the second round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship a year ago, were picked to finish ahead of the Rams in a vote by the league’s 12 head coaches. Coaches could not vote for their own squads.

William & Mary received five first-place votes and 112 total points to claim the top spot in the poll, while JMU picked up four first-place votes and 111 points to finish second. Defending conference champion Hofstra received three first-place votes and was third with 107 points. VCU was picked fourth, followed by UNC Wilmington, George Mason, Delaware , Old Dominion, Northeastern , Georgia State, Towson and Drexel.

Under the direction of first-year co -head coaches Tim Sahaydak and Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak , VCU finished the 2007 campaign with an 11-8-3 overall mark and a fourth-place showing in the CAA regular season standings. The Rams topped UNC Wilmington at home in the opening round of the CAA Tournament before upsetting top-ranked William & Mary in the tournament semifinals. VCU dropped a 1-0 decision to Hofstra in the league championship game. It was the third appearance in the CAA title game for VCU in the past four years.

VCU will host its final tune-up for the season Saturday, August 23 against the Washington Freedom of the newly established Women’s Professional Soccer league. The Rams will open the 2008 regular season Friday, August 29 with a non-conference bout at local rival Richmond.