HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana women's soccer team was picked to finish fourth in the Southland Conference Preseason Polls, which were released by the league office on Wednesday.
 
A fourth-place showing would give SLU its 10^th straight Southland Conference Tournament appearance. The top six teams in the Southland Conference standings will compete in the Southland Conference Tournament on Nov. 5-8 in Conway, Arkansas with the winner advancing to the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Lions earned NCAA berths in 2009 and 2013.
 
"I am pleased that we have been recognized in the top four," Southeastern head coach Blake Hornbuckle said. "We will work diligently to provide an environment for the team to exceed the expectation.  What really matters is where we finish at the end as one stroke of the leg or bounce of the ball can change the course of the season."
 
Southeastern returns 21 letterwinners and nine starters from last season's team, which finished 12-8 overall. Leading the way are a quintet of preseason All-Southland Conference performers – junior forward Bri Singh, junior goalkeeper Hope Sabadash, senior forward Kayla Vera, junior midfielder Katie Noonan and senior defender Cheyenne Maxwell.
 
Winners of the last four Southland regular season championships, Stephen F. Austin was picked atop the coaches' and sports information directors' polls. In the coaches' poll, the Ladyjacks are followed in order by Sam Houston State, Houston Baptist, SLU, Abilene Christian, McNeese State, Nicholls, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Lamar, Central Arkansas, Northwestern State and Incarnate Word.
 
In the SID poll, SFA is followed by HBU, SHSU, SLU, ACU, Nicholls, McNeese, Lamar, A&M-Corpus Christi, Northwestern State, Central Arkansas and Incarnate Word. Coaches and SID's were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
 
Southeastern will open up the 2015 season on Aug. 21, hosting Jackson State at 7 p.m. under the lights at Strawberry Stadium.
 
2015 Southland Conference Preseason Polls
 
Coaches' Poll
Team (First-place votes) – Points
1. Stephen F. Austin (8) – 116
2. Sam Houston State (4) – 112
3. Houston Baptist – 100
4. Southeastern Louisiana – 92
5. Abilene Christian – 68
6. McNeese State – 65
7. Nicholls – 64
8. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – 47
9. Lamar – 46
T10. Central Arkansas – 31
T10. Northwestern State – 31
12. Incarnate Word – 20
 
SID's Poll
Team (First-place votes) – Points
1. Stephen F. Austin (9) – 119
2. Houston Baptist – 103
3. Sam Houston State – 102
4. Southeastern Louisiana – 87
5. Abilene Christian – 76
6. Nicholls – 72
7. McNeese State – 56
8. Lamar – 46
9. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – 43
10. Northwestern State – 34
11. Central Arkansas – 33
12. Incarnate Word - 21