The Piedmont College women's soccer team was tabbed as the preseason favorite by the USA South Athletic Conference coaches on Wednesday.
The Lady Lions received four first-place votes and 60 points while the Maryville Scots took five first-place votes and 60 points to tie for the top spot in the preseason coaches' poll.
Piedmont went unbeaten last season and finished the season with a 16-0-4 record. The Lady Lions saw their postseason play come to an end with a 1-1 draw (4-3 penalty kicks) against Covenant.
The Scots of Covenant were voted third with 50 points while Brevard and Huntingdon round out the top five.
Brevard, who is reclassifying from NCAA Division II, will be included in preseason polls and is eligible for regular-season championships honors but will not be able to participate in postseason play.
Defending conference champions Methodist University were voted first with Salem College taking second.
The Lady Lions open their season in California with a pair of games against Whittier College and University of the Redlands on August 31 and September 2, respectively.
