The Armstrong Atlantic women’s soccer squad has been picked to finish the 2008 season second in a preseason poll of the Peach Belt Conference’s coaches, released today by league officials. The Pirates received one first place vote and 56 points total, behind only Columbus State, who received seven of a possible eight first-place votes and 63 points total. GCSU was picked to finish third with one first-place vote and 52 points total, followed by Lander (35) and Clayton State (34). Coaches were not allowed to rank their own teams.

 AASU has finished second in each of the last two seasons, last year compiling a 14-5-1 overall record and a 6-1-1 league mark. The Pirates lost just three starters from the 2007 squad and return 15 letterwinners for the upcoming year, including two-time All-American forward Kristin Burton as well as two-time All-Region and three-time All-Conference midfielder Lyndsi Stricklen.
 

The Pirates open the 2008 season by hosting the AASU Pirate Shootout on August 30 and Sept. 1. AASU takes on Florida Southern at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, in its first action of the shootout.