Following the program's third Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship in 2013, the Morehead State soccer team has been tabbed for first place in the conference in the official preseason poll.
The Eagles garnered 12 of 22 first-place votes and edged defending regular season champion UT Martin by five points. SIU Edwardsville was selected third, followed by Southeast Missouri. The league's coaches and sports information contacts voted in the poll.
"We respect the opinion of the league's coaches and sports information folks and are certainly honored and happy to be picked number one," Head Coach Warren Lipka said. "The season has yet to be played though, and we would be happy to be in that spot in November. This league has continually improved every year since I've been here, and this year should be no different."
Morehead State finished second in the OVC regular season race in 2013 with a 7-3 mark. MSU defeated Austin Peay in the tournament semifinals and knocked off host UT Martin in the championship match. The Eagles fell to Wake Forest in the NCAA Tournament opening round.
Reigning OVC Player of the Year Jade Flory returns for her senior season. Flory led the team and ranked second in the league with 14 goals and 33 points. She also dished off five assists and tied the MSU season record with five match-winning goals. Sophomore Angela Black was the OVC Freshman of the Year after registering six goals and four assists in her first collegiate campaign.
Morehead State returns all 11 starters, plus primary starting goalkeeper Elizabeth Floyd. She turned in a 1.05 goals against average and helped the Eagles record five shutouts.
"It is a difficult task just to qualify for the OVC Tournament," Lipka added. "We have a lot of work to do. I look forward to another exciting year."
Lipka was named 2013 OVC Co-Coach of the Year.
Morehead State student-athletes are set to report for preseason camp this week, with the regular season opener slated for Aug. 22 at Bowling Green. The home opener is scheduled for Sept. 5 versus Appalachian State.
