University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Women's Soccer Picked Ninth in Big South Preseason Poll
08.11.2010 | Women's Soccer
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The UNC Asheville Women's Soccer Team has begun practice for the 2010 season under first-year coach Michelle Demko.
Demko, who came to Asheville after serving as an assistant coach at Nebraska for three years, has been pleased with the way her first Bulldog team has performed in early-season training.
"Everything is going well. The team has embraced the changes and has worked hard from the start," commented Demko. "I really have been pleased with the effort they've given each day and their fitness. We have a good foundation to begin with, but we have a lot of work to do."
Asheville opens the 2010 season with a home match against East Tennessee State on Sunday, Aug. 22 starting at 2 p.m.
The Big South Conference Preseason Poll came out on Tuesday and it has the Bulldogs picked ninth in this year's 10-team race.
"Our plan is to surprise a lot of people this season," stated Demko. "However, right now we're not focusing on what polls are saying. We're simply trying to get a little better each day. We're rolling up our sleeves and just working as hard as we can. Our goal at this point is to compete with each team on our schedule."
The Bulldogs return five starters from last year's club that went 5-10-1 and 2-7-0 in league play. Heading up the returnees is sophomore forward Chole McCleary-Small. She scored four goals and had nine points in 2009 and was Asheville's leading scorer. Senior forward Katy Beeler is back as she scored twice last season. Junior defender Carolyn O'Brien has been a two-year starter in the back. Sophomore midfielder Hannah Jeske returns as well. She earned a spot on the Big South All-Rookie team last year.
