KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Flagler College women's soccer team debuts at No. 11 in the preseason United Soccer Coaches Division II Top 25, released Tuesday afternoon.

The Peach Belt Conference defending champions finished the 2021 season ranked No. 11 with a 17-2-2 overall record and a 7-2 mark in league play, earning their third-straight PBC Tournament title.

"Starting a season ranked in the national Top 25 is always a nice compliment, but it's also based on the accomplishments of the 2021 season," said head coach Ashley Martin. "The 2022 season will be completely different, with a completely different Flagler team, playing against completely different opposition."
 
"The anticipation for this season has been building since December 2021, so to know we are only weeks away from our first game gives us all a lot of satisfaction. The players have worked hard this summer, and the quest for championships is about to begin!"

The Saints are one of only two PBC schools to be ranked in the preseason top 25. Columbus State University, the 13-time regular season conference champions, are ranked No. 15. The Cougars posted a 19-3-1 overall record and had an undefeated, 9-0, record in conference play.

The defending national champion, Grand Valley State University (24-1-2), sits on top of the poll. The Lakers defeated College of Saint Rose in the national championship match 3-2 in double overtime to win their second consecutive national title. Saint Rose is ranked No. 2 while the other two national semifinalists, Dallas Baptist University and Lenoir-Rhyne University, are third and fourth respectively. Seattle Pacific University rounds out the top five.

Flagler edged UNC Pembroke 2-1 in the first round of the NCAA Division II Tournament last season before upsetting top-seeded Columbus State 4-1 in the second round. The No. 4 seeded Saints fell in the Southeast Region Final to No. 7 Lenoir-Rhyne in a penalty kick shootout, 1-1 (4-2).

The Saints return 18 letter winners from last year, including eight starters. Highlighting the returnees is UCS All-American third-team selection, Andrea Fernandez. The rising sophomore etched her name into the history books, becoming the third in goals (17), second in assists (15) and second in points (49) in a single season. Fernandez also earned D2CCA All-America accolades, was D2CCA All-Southeast Region first team as well as the Southeast Region Player of the Year. The forward was tabbed PBC Player and Freshman of the Year, All-PBC first team and was a United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region member.  Also returning for Flagler is Josefine Nilsen, a two-time D2CCA All-Southeast Region member, an All-PBC second team selection and a CoSIDA Academic All-District® first team forward. The junior joined Fernandez with double-digit goals (10) as she also has a team-second best six assists to sit in second in points (26).  

Flagler opens the regular season schedule on Aug. 25 at the University of Mount Olive in Mount Olive, N.C. at 3:30 p.m. The home opener is Sept. 5 against Florida Tech at 5 p.m. at Saints Field.
 
United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll
 
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