BIRMINGHAM, ALA. - University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff forward Jade West and defender Erika Forbes, also from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, were named the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Women's Soccer Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, the conference announced today. Preseason honors were voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
The Jackson State Lady Tigers and Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lady Lions were picked as the preseason favorites in the eastern and western divisions, respectively. Jackson State received 15 out of 20 first-place votes while Arkansas-Pine Bluff tallied 19 first-place votes.
West, the league's Offensive Player of the Year for two consecutive seasons, ranked first in the SWAC in goals (11), assists (10) and points (32). She led her team in four different categories and garnered First Team All-SWAC honors in 2009.
Forbes, a 2009 All-SWAC First Team selection, finished second in the conference in assists (8) and fourth in points (20). She was a three-time SWAC Player of the Week honoree in 2009.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff posted a 3-1-0 league record and a 12-7-4 overall mark in 2009 en route to the SWAC Championship. Teammate Rachel Harker joins West and Forbes on the preseason first team.
Jackson State recorded a 3-0-1 conference mark and an 8-6-2 overall record in 2009. The Tigers welcome back preseason All-SWAC midfielder Bupe Okeowo and goalkeeper Allison Lane.
In the eastern division, Alabama A&M was predicted to finish second with 68 points. Mississippi Valley State tallied two first-place votes and 67 points for third followed by Alcorn State (37 points) and Alabama State (34 points).
Prairie View A&M, the runner-up to the SWAC Championship a year ago, was picked to finish second in the western division with 69 points. Texas Southern (52 points) was tabbed third followed by Southern (42 points) and Grambling (39 points).
The 2010 SWAC Women's Soccer Championship will be held November 4-7 on the campus of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Predicted Order of Finish (First-Place Votes in Parenthesis)
| Eastern Division |
Pts. |
| 1. Jackson State (15) |
94 pts. |
| 2. Alabama A&M (1) |
68 pts. |
| 3. Mississippi Valley State (2) |
67 pts. |
| 4. Alcorn State (2) |
37 pts. |
| 5. Alabama State |
34 pts. |
| Western Division |
Pts. |
| 1. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (19) |
98 pts. |
| 2. Prairie View A&M (1) |
69 pts. |
| 3. Texas Southern |
52 pts. |
| 4. Southern |
49 pts. |
| 5. Grambling State |
39 pts. |
2010 Women's Soccer Preseason Honors
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Jade West, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Erika Forbes, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
First Team
| Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Cl. |
School |
Hometown |
| Joice Avila |
M |
5-6 |
Jr. |
Alabama A&M |
East Elmhurst, N.Y. |
| Deanna Barclay |
M |
5-6 |
Jr. |
Jackson State |
Pembroke Pines, Fla. |
| Kayla Boyd |
M |
5-6 |
So. |
Mississippi Valley |
London, Ontario |
| Nailah Johnson |
M |
5-7 |
So. |
Texas Southern |
Cathedral City, Calif. |
| Joell Gibson |
D |
5-4 |
So. |
Jackson State |
Frere Pilgrim, Barbados
|
| Mandi Quirk |
D |
5-9 |
Sr. |
Mississippi Valley |
Mississauga, Ontario |
| Saycha Mitchell |
D |
5-7 |
Sr. |
Texas Southern |
Sacramento, Calif. |
| Celeste Roberts |
F |
5-8 |
Jr. |
Alabama A&M |
Far Rockaway, Ala. |
| Nicole Parks-Powell |
F |
6-1 |
Jr. |
Ark.-Pine Bluff |
Tracy, Calif. |
| Rachele Dobbins |
F |
5-6 |
Jr. |
Grambling |
Little Rock, Ark. |
| Chelsea Nash |
GK |
5-6 |
Sr. |
Alabama State |
Tifton, Ga. |
Second Team
| Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Cl. |
School |
Hometown |
| Rachel Harker |
M |
5-7 |
Jr. |
Ark.-Pine Bluff |
Burnaby, British Columbia |
| Bupe Okeowo |
M |
5-8 |
So. |
Jackson State |
Dumfries,Va. |
| Abigail Escobar |
M |
5-5 |
So. |
Prairie View A&M |
San Juan, Texas |
| Nakesha Rolle |
M |
5-6 |
Sr. |
Southern |
Nassau, Bahamas |
| Brittany Joseph |
D |
5-5 |
Jr. |
Alabama A&M |
Pasadena, Calif. |
| Erika Forbes |
D |
5-5 |
Jr. |
Ark.-Pine Bluff |
Whitby, Ontario |
| Monica Diaz |
D |
5-6 |
Sr. |
Prairie View A&M |
Katy, Texas |
| Jade West |
F |
5-5 |
Jr. |
Ark.-Pine Bluff |
Ajax, Ontario |
| Ashley Baker |
F |
5-5 |
Sr. |
Grambling |
El Paso, Texas |
| Yosselyn Aguilar |
F |
5-6 |
So. |
Prairie View A&M |
Houston, Texas |
| Allison Lane |
GK |
5-7 |
So. |
Jackson State |
Marlton, N.J. |
