Lady Eagles Report to Preseason Camp

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. -- The Carson-Newman women's soccer team reported to fall camp on Friday as the preseason favorite to win the South Atlantic Conference title for a second

With seven preseason All-SAC selections on the roster, Lady Eagle coach Phil McNamara has plenty of reason for optimism heading into the 2009 season.

"We are extremely excited," said McNamara, who enters his eighth season at the helm of the Lady Eagle program. "It's been a long layover between seasons. The girls look healthy and will hopefully look healthy by the end of next week."

"We've got a very strong schedule. We want to be careful that we don't put to much pressure on ourselves, being the preseason favorites to win the conference and having seven players returning as all-conference selections."

The Lady Eagles had 18 players report to camp, including defenders Melissa Morris (Sweetwater, Tenn.) and Katie Hunter (Mississauga, Ontario) and goalkeeper Lauren MacKenzie, who were preseason first team All-SAC selections. Forwards Morgan Gruenenfelder (Sweetwater, Tenn.), Trenna Howell (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) and Nikki Brannen (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) and defender Jessie Stephens (Knoxville, Tenn.) were named to the second team.

"Overall we are excited about the returners," McNamara said. "We are eager to get the new players in and get them familiar with our system and our requirements at this level. We will just keep working hard and hope to improve on a daily basis and see how far we can drive this team forward."

The Lady Eagles will begin practice on Aug. 10 and will open the season at home against King on Aug. 27 at 7 p.m.

C-N won both the SAC regular season and SAC Tournament titles in 2008. The Lady Eagles finished the year 16-6-1 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Round of 16.