Marcela Montoya Earns Preseason All-SBC Women's Soccer Honors
8/9/2021 1:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Montoya earns a spot on the preseason squad; Eagles picked ninth in Sun Belt preseason release
STATESBORO - Georgia Southern graduate student Marcela Montoya has been named to the Sun Belt Conference's preseason All-Conference women's soccer squad, announced today with the league's preseason release.
Montoya was one of four forwards picked for the 11-person Preseason All-Sun Belt Team. The Cape Coral, Fla., native earns the honor on the heels of her 2020 campaign that saw her earn her first All-Sun Belt honor. Montoya scored five goals in 2020, with a pair of game-winning tallies, and finished the season ranked among the Sun Belt's Top 10 in goals and points.
The league also announced its preseason coaches poll, and Georgia Southern was picked ninth out of 11 teams. Defending Sun Belt champion South Alabama was picked first, followed by Arkansas State, Georgia State, Coastal Carolina, Louisiana, Texas State, Little Rock and App State ahead of the Eagles. ULM was picked 10th and Troy rounds out the poll at 11th.
Georgia Southern will be in action this Saturday playing in its lone exhibition contest, facing UNC Asheville at 6 p.m. at the Mesa Soccer Complex in Greer, S.C. The Eagles open the 2021 regular season on Thursday, August 19, playing at the College of Charleston in a 6 p.m. contest at Patriots Point in Charleston, S.C.
2021 Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Awards
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 (So. – 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.)
2021 Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
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
Montoya was one of four forwards picked for the 11-person Preseason All-Sun Belt Team. The Cape Coral, Fla., native earns the honor on the heels of her 2020 campaign that saw her earn her first All-Sun Belt honor. Montoya scored five goals in 2020, with a pair of game-winning tallies, and finished the season ranked among the Sun Belt's Top 10 in goals and points.
The league also announced its preseason coaches poll, and Georgia Southern was picked ninth out of 11 teams. Defending Sun Belt champion South Alabama was picked first, followed by Arkansas State, Georgia State, Coastal Carolina, Louisiana, Texas State, Little Rock and App State ahead of the Eagles. ULM was picked 10th and Troy rounds out the poll at 11th.
Georgia Southern will be in action this Saturday playing in its lone exhibition contest, facing UNC Asheville at 6 p.m. at the Mesa Soccer Complex in Greer, S.C. The Eagles open the 2021 regular season on Thursday, August 19, playing at the College of Charleston in a 6 p.m. contest at Patriots Point in Charleston, S.C.
2021 Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Awards
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 (So. – 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.)
2021 Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
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
Players Mentioned
MF
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