University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Walt Beazley
Women’s Soccer Picked to Win the American Athletic Conference
Aug 08, 2017 | Women's Soccer
Three Tigers landed on the preseason all-conference team
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis women's soccer team has been picked as the preseason favorite to win the American Athletic Conference, the league office announced Tuesday. The league's head coaches voted in the preseason poll, with five of the nine coaches selecting the Tigers first.
"I appreciate this compliment by my peers in our conference, who I have a lot of respect for. But at the end of the day preseason rankings and scores don't really matter," Memphis head coach Brooks Monaghan said. "This is something good that we can use with our kids to know that there won't be any surprises. With what the conference thinks of you, they will all be gunning for you."
This is the first time since 2012 that the Tigers have been chosen by the league's head coaches as the preseason favorite. Memphis went into the 2012 season having won five-straight C-USA championships.
Olivia Gauthier, Marie Levasseur and Jessica Lisi were selected to the Preseason All-Conference team. The three Memphis players are tied with SMU for the most on the team.
"There's no doubt that based on their past performances that they deserve these awards. But every year you have to prove yourself again. Hopefully this will give them that much more confidence," said Monaghan.
Gauthier was named to the all-conference second team last season and landed on the all-rookie team after her freshman season in 2015. She has started all 39 games in her career and serves as a team captain.
Levasseur, one of three unanimous selections on the all-conference team, enters the season with 11 career goals and nine assists. Last season she missed five matches while on international duty with the Canadian National Team.
Lisi set a freshman program record with nine assists last season on her way to second team all-conference and all-rookie recognition. She also scored six goals and finished second on the team with 21 points.
The Tigers will play a pair of exhibition matches this week, first on the road at Mississippi State before hosting Vanderbilt Sunday at noon at the Park Avenue Campus. The regular season opens with three consecutive home matches, starting with Samford on Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. at Mike Rose Soccer Complex.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Evelyn Viens, USF
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Vanessa Gilles, Cincinnati
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Vera Varis, UCF
Preseason All-Conference Team
GK, Vera Varis, Jr., UCF
D, Saga Fredricksson, Sr., UCF
F, Julie Gavorski, Sr., Cincinnati
D, Vanessa Gilles, Sr., Cincinnati*
D, Olivia Gauthier, Jr., Memphis
F, Marie Levasseur, Jr., Memphis*
M/F, Jessica Lisi, So., Memphis
M, Andrea Haukadottir, So., USF
F, Evelyn Viens, So., USF*
M, Claire Oates, Sr., SMU
M, Allie Thornton, So., SMU
F, Vanessa Valadez, RS-Jr., SMU
M, Tana Dake, Sr., Tulsa
M, Rachel Thun, Sr., Tulsa
[*] Denotes unanimous selection
"I appreciate this compliment by my peers in our conference, who I have a lot of respect for. But at the end of the day preseason rankings and scores don't really matter," Memphis head coach Brooks Monaghan said. "This is something good that we can use with our kids to know that there won't be any surprises. With what the conference thinks of you, they will all be gunning for you."
This is the first time since 2012 that the Tigers have been chosen by the league's head coaches as the preseason favorite. Memphis went into the 2012 season having won five-straight C-USA championships.
Olivia Gauthier, Marie Levasseur and Jessica Lisi were selected to the Preseason All-Conference team. The three Memphis players are tied with SMU for the most on the team.
"There's no doubt that based on their past performances that they deserve these awards. But every year you have to prove yourself again. Hopefully this will give them that much more confidence," said Monaghan.
Gauthier was named to the all-conference second team last season and landed on the all-rookie team after her freshman season in 2015. She has started all 39 games in her career and serves as a team captain.
Levasseur, one of three unanimous selections on the all-conference team, enters the season with 11 career goals and nine assists. Last season she missed five matches while on international duty with the Canadian National Team.
Lisi set a freshman program record with nine assists last season on her way to second team all-conference and all-rookie recognition. She also scored six goals and finished second on the team with 21 points.
The Tigers will play a pair of exhibition matches this week, first on the road at Mississippi State before hosting Vanderbilt Sunday at noon at the Park Avenue Campus. The regular season opens with three consecutive home matches, starting with Samford on Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. at Mike Rose Soccer Complex.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Place | School | Points (1st Place Votes) |
| 1. | Memphis | 74 (5) |
| 2. | SMU | 65 (3) |
| 3. | Cincinnati | 60 (1) |
| 4. | USF | 57 (1) |
| 5. | UConn | 56 |
| 6. | UCF | 53 |
| 7. | Tulsa | 34 |
| T8. | East Carolina | 18 |
| T8. | Houston | 18 |
| 10. | Temple | 15 |
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Evelyn Viens, USF
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Vanessa Gilles, Cincinnati
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Vera Varis, UCF
Preseason All-Conference Team
GK, Vera Varis, Jr., UCF
D, Saga Fredricksson, Sr., UCF
F, Julie Gavorski, Sr., Cincinnati
D, Vanessa Gilles, Sr., Cincinnati*
D, Olivia Gauthier, Jr., Memphis
F, Marie Levasseur, Jr., Memphis*
M/F, Jessica Lisi, So., Memphis
M, Andrea Haukadottir, So., USF
F, Evelyn Viens, So., USF*
M, Claire Oates, Sr., SMU
M, Allie Thornton, So., SMU
F, Vanessa Valadez, RS-Jr., SMU
M, Tana Dake, Sr., Tulsa
M, Rachel Thun, Sr., Tulsa
[*] Denotes unanimous selection
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
M/F
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