Defiance Women's Soccer Has Pair Named to HCAC Watch List

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The 2009 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference announced its preseason poll for women's soccer on Tuesday. The poll, which is voted on by the league's nine head women's soccer coaches, tabbed Defiance to finish eighth and listed two Jackets as HCAC Preseason Players to Watch.

DC earned 20 points in the poll to finish ahead of Franklin (11) in the preseason rankings. Transylvania (79) earned seven of the nine first-place votes to grab the top spot, while Mount St. Joseph (68) and Rose-Hulman (59) each garnered one first-place vote to round out the top three. Hanover (54) and Manchester (51) finished just outside the top three, while Bluffton (33) and Anderson (30) were picked sixth and seventh respectively.

The Yellow Jackets will look to build on their 5-12-1 mark from one year ago and will lean on a returning crop of nine starters in order to do so. DC will be led by HCAC Preseason Players to Watch Hannah Davis and Melissa Alston, while also looking to Lauren Ranalli and Danielle Chadwick for continued offensive firepower, after the duo netted six of the team's 17 goals in 2008.

Defiance will get its 2009 campaign started on September 1, when it plays at Ohio Northern at 4:00 pm.