ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Emory & Henry College Women's Soccer Team has been voted to finish 12th in the South Atlantic Conference this year by the league's head coaches. The poll was released by the SAC office on Tuesday.
RELATED – SAC Preseason Poll & Preseason All-Conference Teams
Emory & Henry brings back 73 percent of its offense from last season with 15 returners. The Wasps have 16 newcomers including a pair of transfers who will be looked upon to make an immediate impact on the pitch. E&H has 17 regular-season matches on the schedule this year, and one exhibition against a NCAA Division I side.
On Thursday, August 17, Emory & Henry will travel up Interstate 81 to face off against Radford University in an exhibition match. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m., and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
The Wasps get the regular season underway on Thursday, August 31, hosting Shaw University at 5 p.m. After visiting King (Tenn.) University on Tuesday, September 5, E&H returns to Fred Selfe Stadium for contests against Bluefield State University (Sat., Sept. 9; 4 p.m.) and Belmont Abbey College (Wed., Sept. 13; 5 p.m.).
Four of Emory & Henry's next five contests will be on the road beginning with the SAC-opener at Newberry College (Sat., Sept. 16) and a trip to Carson-Newman University (Wed., Sept. 20). The Wasps return home to tangle with Limestone University on Sunday, September 24 at 1 p.m., before again taking to the road for matchups at Bluefield State (Wed., Sept. 27) and Anderson (S.C.) University (Sat., Sept. 30).
Six of E&H's final eight contests will be played in Southwest Virginia beginning with a visit from Lenoir-Rhyne University on Wednesday, October 4 at 7:30 p.m. After traveling to Tusculum University (Wed., Oct. 11), the Wasps come back to celebrate Homecoming against Mars Hill on Sunday, October 15 (3:30 p.m.).
Wingate University comes to town on Wednesday, October 18 at 5 p.m., setting up Emory & Henry's final road match of the year at Coker on Saturday, September 21.
The Wasps host Virginia State University on Wednesday, October 25 (4:30 p.m.) in a non-conference contest. Catawba College and Lincoln Memorial University will visit the Wasps on Saturday, October 28 (5 p.m.) and Wednesday, November 1 (7:30 p.m.) to close out the regular season.
The South Atlantic Conference Tournament will take place between November 4 and 12. Quarterfinals will be at the higher seeds with the semifinals and championship contests at the Sportsplex at Matthews in Matthews, North Carolina.
Catawba College received eight of the 12 first-place votes and are selected to be the league's champion this year. Lenoir-Rhyne University garnered the other four top nods and is in second place. Wingate University, Carson-Newman University and Limestone University make up the top five, respectively.
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2023 SAC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
| Rank | School (FPV) | Points |
| 1. | Catawba (8) | 118 |
| 2. | Lenoir-Rhyne (4) | 114 |
| 3. | Wingate | 96 |
| 4. | Carson-Newman | 92 |
| 5. | Limestone | 81 |
| 6. | Anderson | 75 |
| 7. | Newberry | 55 |
| 8. | Tusculum | 46 |
| 9. | Lincoln Memorial | 43 |
| 10. | Coker | 33 |
| 11. | Mars Hill | 26 |
| 12. | Emory & Henry | 13 |
2023 Preseason All-SAC Women's Soccer Teams
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