Aug. 14, 2008

Baton Rouge, LA - Four players from the Southern University Lady Jaguars soccer team pick up their first honor of the 2008 season.

Senior Almarie Soto-Ortiz and junior Tiffany Cantu were named to the preseason All-SWAC first-team while Vacaville, California native Jamika Pugh and Hopemills, North Carolina native Amanda Soto-Ortiz were named to the second-team.

"I am always proud of all the honors the players receive," said head coach John Knighten.

SU, for the second straight year, was chosen to finish second in the Western Division. The Lady Jags fell to the Southwestern Athletic Conference champions the Alabama A&M University Lady Bulldogs in the first round of the 2007 soccer post season tournament.

The complete list of the coaches order of finish and the preseason All-Conference selections are listed below:

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 State 35

Alcorn State 34

Western Division

Grambling State (10) 83 pts

Southern (6) 74

Prairie View A&M (4) 64

Arkansas-Pine Bluff 40

Texas Southern 36

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-Ortiz Southern 5-3 Sr. 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 Jr. 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 Jr. Hopemills, NC

D Rochelle Moncrieffe Jackson State 5-10 So. Coconut Creek, FL

D Jamika Pugh Southern 5-4 Sr. 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