Aug. 7, 2012
C-USA All-Preseason Team Video
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Jenna Marina
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - For the second-consecutive year, senior Tishia Jewell and junior Marissa Diggs were named to the 2012 Preseason Women's Soccer All-Conference USA Team on Tuesday. In addition, Diggs was tabbed as the league's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, joining alum Aline Reis as the only Knight to receive the distinction since UCF joined the conference in 2005.
In their last season of Conference USA action before transitioning to the BIG EAST, the Knights were predicted to finish second behind Memphis in the preseason poll, as selected by the C-USA coaches. UCF has been chosen to finish either first or second in the preseason poll every year since it became a member in 2005.*
Jewell, last year's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, finished 2011 with NSCAA All-American laurels in addition to All-Central Region and All-Conference USA First Team honors. She was ranked among the nation's top-25 players for assists and led the Knights with 24 points (7 goals, 10 assists). The Satellite Beach native started in 22 of 24 games for UCF, helping lead the program to its first Elite Eight appearance in 24 years.
As a sophomore, Diggs was one of four players who started in every game in 2011 en route to All-Central Region and All-Conference USA First Team accolades. She logged a team-high 2,284 minutes, commanding a defense that ranked second in goals allowed (17) and third in shutouts (10) in C-USA.
UCF was one of three teams who boasted multiple selections to the preseason team. Rice (3) and Colorado College (2) also had more than one player named to the team.
Jewell and Diggs along with seven other returning starters from last year will kick off the season with their only exhibition match of the year this Saturday at 7 p.m. against Florida at the UCF Soccer Complex.
UCF soccer season tickets are currently available, beginning at $30. A complimentary soccer scarf comes with each purchase. The scarf also acts as your ticket to the game, so be sure to come to the game in style. Fans of Olympic sports should be sure to ask about our GOLD PASS. With a GOLD PASS, you receive season admission to six UCF sports for just $90. For more information and to place an order, call the UCF Ticket Office at (407) UCF-1000 or visit UCFAthletics.com.
*Preseason polls were not recorded in 2009 or 2010.
2012 PRESEASON WOMEN'S SOCCER ALL-CONFERENCE USA TEAM
Jessie Ayers, So., MF, Colorado College (Seattle, Wash.)
Brittney Lyman, Sr., F, Colorado College (Arvada, Colo.)
Christabel Oduro, Jr., MF/F, Memphis (Brampton, Ontario) - PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jessica Howard, Jr., MF/F, Rice (Dallas, Texas)
Lauren LaGro, Sr., D, Rice (Dallas, Texas)
Quinney Truong, So., MF/F, Rice (Fort Worth, Texas)
Mallory Baum, Sr., MF, SMU (Keller, Texas)
Claire Hulcer, Sr., D, Tulsa (St. Louis, Mo.)
Marissa Diggs, Jr., D, UCF (Rowlett, Texas) - PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tishia Jewell, Sr., F, UCF (Satellite Beach, Fla.)
Azia Nicholson, Jr., D/MF, UTEP (Grand Prairie, Texas)
2012 C-USA PRESEASON POLL
(as selected by C-USA coaches)
1. Memphis
2. UCF
3. Colorado College
4. SMU
5. Rice
6. Tulsa
7. East Carolina
8. UTEP
9. UAB
10. Houston
11. Marshall
12. Southern Miss