Nora El-Shami and Melinda Lukas Named Preseason All-Sun Belt Women's Soccer

NEW ORLEANS – After a trip to the Sun Belt Conference Semifinals in 2014, Georgia Southern Women's Soccer was picked to finish fourth in the preseason coaches poll while student-athletes Nora El-Shami and Melinda Lukas were picked to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team.

The Eagles finished tied for third place last season with a 5-3-1 league record and an 11-6-2 overall mark. Non-conference wins over Indiana, UNC Wilmington, Mercer and Francis Marion punctuated a stellar season. Georgia Southern reached the semifinals of the Sun Belt Tournament with a win over Appalachian State in the first round of the postseason.

El-Shami and Lukas earned spots on the All-Sun Belt Preseason Team after each claiming All-Sun Belt honors a year ago. El-Shami scored seven goals with seven assists last season as a junior to pace the Eagle attack. Lukas had an outstanding sophomore campaign, scoring six goals including four game-winning goals.

Two preseason friendliness will give the Eagles a chance to play together before the season opener on August 21st against Jacksonville. The first friendly is set for Friday at The Citadel with the second scheduled for Sunday, August 16th against North Georgia.

Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS or by visiting GSEagles.com.

Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference Team
** Melinda Lukas (Georgia Southern, Junior, Forward, Exercise Science)
Yazmin Montoya (UL Lafayette, Junior, Forward, Kinesiology)
* Charde Hannah (South Alabama, Sophomore, Forward, Business)
* Nora El-Shami (Georgia Southern, Senior, Midfielder, Recreation Management)
Jasmine Fahrnbauer (Troy, Senior, Midfielder, Human Services)
* Alissa Jones (Troy, Senior, Midfielder, Psychology)
* Sophie Haywood (South Alabama, Sophomore, Midfielder, Exercise Science)
* Steffi Hardy (South Alabama, Sophomore, Defender, Undecided)
* Nini Rabsatt-Smith (South Alabama, Senior, Defender, Exercise Science)
** Payton Donley (Troy, Senior, Defender, Athletic Training/Physical Therapy)
** Mikki Lewis (Troy, Sophomore, Goalkeeper, Psychology)
* - denotes 2014 First-Team All-Conference | ** - denotes 2014 Second-Team All-Conference

SBC Preseason Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Charde Hannah (South Alabama, Sophomore, Forward, Business)

SBC Preseason Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Nini Rabsatt-Smith (South Alabama, Senior, Defender, Exercise Science)

2015 Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Poll (first-place votes in parentheses)
1. South Alabama (8) – 98 pts
2. Troy – 85 pts
3. Texas State (1) – 75 pts
4. Georgia Southern – 68 pts
5. Georgia State – 56 pts
6. Appalachian State – 55 pts
7. UL Lafayette (1) – 51 pts
8. Little Rock – 32 pts
9. Arkansas State – 16 pts
10. UL Monroe – 14 pts

Schedule

Players Mentioned

Nora El-Shami

Melinda Lukas