Smith Cathey, Bri Conley Earn Preseason All-Sun Belt Soccer Honors
8/7/2024 1:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Both players ranked among the Top 5 in the league in goals last season
STATESBORO - Georgia Southern senior midfielder Smith Cathey and junior forward Bri Conley have each been named to the 2024 Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference squad, announced today by league officials. In addition, the Eagles have been picked to finish fourth in a preseason poll of the league's coaches.
Cathey tallied a career-high seven goals from her midfield position last year, ranking fifth in the Sun Belt Conference. The Madison, Ga., native scored goals in three straight Sun Belt matches from Oct. 11-19 and also notched the game-winning goal for the Eagles in their 2-1 win at Miami on August 27.
Conley, meanwhile, earns a spot on the preseason All-Conference squad after tallying seven goals and five assists during her sophomore season in 2023. She notched the game-tying goal against ULM in the Sun Belt Quarterfinals and earned All-Tournament honors as well. The Midland, Ga., native also delivered the game-winning goal in the Eagles' 2-1 win at James Madison on October 22 and six of her seven goals last year came against Sun Belt opponents.
This is the third straight year in which the Eagles have placed a pair of student-athletes on the Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference squad.
In the coaches' preseason poll, the Eagles received 134 points to tie for fourth among the 14 squads. Old Dominion is picked to finish first with 181 points and seven first-place votes, followed by James Madison, who received 177 points and three first-place votes. ULM is third with 138 points and the Eagles are tied with Georgia State, who also received 134 points and one first place vote.
Georgia Southern faces Florida in an exhibition contest on Saturday, August 10, at 6 p.m. The match will be played at Tormenta Stadium.
