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NEW ORLEANS – James Madison girls’s soccer was predicted to repeat as Sun Belt Conference champions in 2025, whereas Ginny Lackey and Sofia DeCerb earned main preseason awards and 4 complete gamers earned preseason all-conference standing in a vote by the league’s head coaches.
Lackey, a ahead, was picked because the SBC Preseason Player of the Year, whereas DeCerb was honored as Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. The two had been joined on the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team by midfielder Jamie Swartz and defender Jordan Yang.
The Dukes took the league’s prime spot within the preseason coaches’ ballot after receiving 9 first-place votes and 189 factors. Texas State, final yr’s prime finisher within the west division, clocked in at second, receiving three first-place votes and 178 factors. Old Dominion garnered a first-place vote and 169 factors for third, whereas rounding out the highest 5 had been South Alabama (145) and Coastal Carolina (117).
Last season, JMU completed with a 12-4-5 total report and went unbeaten in Sun Belt play, at 8-0-2. The Dukes proceeded to win a shootout, adopted by a pair of one-goal wins to assert its first Sun Belt match title, its fifth total match crown and advance to the NCAA Championship for the thirteenth time.
Lackey, the defending Sun Belt Player and Freshman of the Year, led the Sun Belt with 12 targets, regardless of not debuting till the sixth match of the season. Her 9 targets in league play led all gamers, and she or he added ten assists, which positioned her second within the SBC. Lackey grew to become the primary participant in Sun Belt historical past to win Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in the identical season. The sophomore completed as a finalist for the 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy award and was named a Third Team All-American by United Soccer Coaches.
DeCerb returns as a 21-game starter for the Dukes final season, producing a conference-leading seven shutouts with 56 saves. The redshirt sophomore keeper managed a 1.41 targets towards common, rating her tenth within the Sun Belt. DeCerb’s 11 saves and three shutouts within the postseason landed her on the Sun Belt All-Tournament Team, as JMU clinched the match title final November.
A staple on the Dukes’ protection for 3 seasons, Yang returns to a backline that compelled 5 shutouts in Sun Belt play. The senior began in 20 matches final season and earned a range to the All-Sun Belt First Team in addition to a inserting on the All-Tournament crew for her contribution within the postseason.
Swartz appeared in all 21 matches final season with 13 begins. The midfielder performed a key function in a protection that allowed solely 5.9 pictures per recreation in league play. Offensively, Swartz added a aim and 6 assists, scoring the game-winning penalty kick towards ULM within the SBC Quarterfinals. Swartz was named Second Team All Sun Belt in 2024.
James Madison will open the 2025 season at NC State on Thursday, August 14. Kickoff is ready for 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra
2025 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Ginny Lackey, James Madison (So., F, Manchester, England)
Preseason Midfielder of the Year:
Victoria Meza, Texas State (Jr., M, San Salvador, El Salvador)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Ashlynn Kulha, Old Dominion (Jr., D, Holly Springs, N.C.)
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year:
Sofia DeCerb, James Madison (R-So., GK, Greensburg, Pa.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
F – Ginny Lackey, James Madison (So., Manchester, England)
F – Aaliyah Faddoul, Georgia State (Jr., Ontario, Canada)
F – Izzi Wood, App State (Gr., Hickory, N.C.)
M – Ellie Garrison, App State (So., Trinity, N.C.)
M – Victoria Meza, Texas State (Jr., San Salvador, El Salvador)
M – Jamie Swartz, James Madison (Sr., Palmyra, Pa.)
D – Eefje Botjer, Coastal Carolina (So., Schiffdorf, Germany)
D – Kennley Bradley, Texas State (Gr., Ogden, Utah)
D – Ashlynn Kulha, Old Dominion (Jr., Holly Springs, N.C.)
D – Jordan Yang, James Madison (Sr., Clifton, Va.)
GK – Sofia DeCerb, James Madison (R-So., Greensburg, Pa.)
2025 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
1. James Madison (9) – 189
2. Texas State (3) – 178
3. Old Dominion (1) – 169
4. South Alabama – 145
5. Coastal Carolina – 117
6. Georgia State – 115
7. ULM – 114
8. App State – 102
9. Georgia Southern – 84
10. Marshall (1) – 68
11. Louisiana – 64
12. Southern Miss – 52
13. Arkansas State – 40
14. Troy – 33
Parentheses point out first-place votes.
Lackey, a ahead, was picked because the SBC Preseason Player of the Year, whereas DeCerb was honored as Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. The two had been joined on the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team by midfielder Jamie Swartz and defender Jordan Yang.
The Dukes took the league’s prime spot within the preseason coaches’ ballot after receiving 9 first-place votes and 189 factors. Texas State, final yr’s prime finisher within the west division, clocked in at second, receiving three first-place votes and 178 factors. Old Dominion garnered a first-place vote and 169 factors for third, whereas rounding out the highest 5 had been South Alabama (145) and Coastal Carolina (117).
Last season, JMU completed with a 12-4-5 total report and went unbeaten in Sun Belt play, at 8-0-2. The Dukes proceeded to win a shootout, adopted by a pair of one-goal wins to assert its first Sun Belt match title, its fifth total match crown and advance to the NCAA Championship for the thirteenth time.
Lackey, the defending Sun Belt Player and Freshman of the Year, led the Sun Belt with 12 targets, regardless of not debuting till the sixth match of the season. Her 9 targets in league play led all gamers, and she or he added ten assists, which positioned her second within the SBC. Lackey grew to become the primary participant in Sun Belt historical past to win Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in the identical season. The sophomore completed as a finalist for the 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy award and was named a Third Team All-American by United Soccer Coaches.
DeCerb returns as a 21-game starter for the Dukes final season, producing a conference-leading seven shutouts with 56 saves. The redshirt sophomore keeper managed a 1.41 targets towards common, rating her tenth within the Sun Belt. DeCerb’s 11 saves and three shutouts within the postseason landed her on the Sun Belt All-Tournament Team, as JMU clinched the match title final November.
A staple on the Dukes’ protection for 3 seasons, Yang returns to a backline that compelled 5 shutouts in Sun Belt play. The senior began in 20 matches final season and earned a range to the All-Sun Belt First Team in addition to a inserting on the All-Tournament crew for her contribution within the postseason.
Swartz appeared in all 21 matches final season with 13 begins. The midfielder performed a key function in a protection that allowed solely 5.9 pictures per recreation in league play. Offensively, Swartz added a aim and 6 assists, scoring the game-winning penalty kick towards ULM within the SBC Quarterfinals. Swartz was named Second Team All Sun Belt in 2024.
James Madison will open the 2025 season at NC State on Thursday, August 14. Kickoff is ready for 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra
2025 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Ginny Lackey, James Madison (So., F, Manchester, England)
Preseason Midfielder of the Year:
Victoria Meza, Texas State (Jr., M, San Salvador, El Salvador)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Ashlynn Kulha, Old Dominion (Jr., D, Holly Springs, N.C.)
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year:
Sofia DeCerb, James Madison (R-So., GK, Greensburg, Pa.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
F – Ginny Lackey, James Madison (So., Manchester, England)
F – Aaliyah Faddoul, Georgia State (Jr., Ontario, Canada)
F – Izzi Wood, App State (Gr., Hickory, N.C.)
M – Ellie Garrison, App State (So., Trinity, N.C.)
M – Victoria Meza, Texas State (Jr., San Salvador, El Salvador)
M – Jamie Swartz, James Madison (Sr., Palmyra, Pa.)
D – Eefje Botjer, Coastal Carolina (So., Schiffdorf, Germany)
D – Kennley Bradley, Texas State (Gr., Ogden, Utah)
D – Ashlynn Kulha, Old Dominion (Jr., Holly Springs, N.C.)
D – Jordan Yang, James Madison (Sr., Clifton, Va.)
GK – Sofia DeCerb, James Madison (R-So., Greensburg, Pa.)
2025 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
1. James Madison (9) – 189
2. Texas State (3) – 178
3. Old Dominion (1) – 169
4. South Alabama – 145
5. Coastal Carolina – 117
6. Georgia State – 115
7. ULM – 114
8. App State – 102
9. Georgia Southern – 84
10. Marshall (1) – 68
11. Louisiana – 64
12. Southern Miss – 52
13. Arkansas State – 40
14. Troy – 33
Parentheses point out first-place votes.
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you’ll be able to go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://jmusports.com/news/2025/8/6/womens-soccer-jmu-predicted-as-preseason-favorites-lackey-and-decerb-collect-major-sbc-honors
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