SWAC ANNOUNCES PRESEASON SOCCER HONORS

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA (August 13, 2008) The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2008 preseason soccer honors Wednesday with Jackson State teammates Naira Crimiel and Rochelle Moncrieffe claiming top honors. The team was voted on by the schools’ coaches and sports information contacts.

Crimiel – a 5-foot-3 sophomore midfielder from McComb, MS – was named preseason offensive player of the year following a successful 2007 campaign. Last season, she played in 16 games in which she tallied 14 goals and six assists (34 points). She connected on three game-winning goals and had a shot-on-goal percentage of 69 percent. She had three games of at least two goals and two matches of four goals scored. She was first in the conference averaging 2.12 points per game, first in goals scored and third in assists. She was named conference player of the week four times and was the 2007 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year.

Moncrieffe – a 5-foot-10 sophomore defender/forward from Coconut Creek, FL – was voted as the preseason defensive player of the year. She garnered six goals and seven assists last season while assisting in one of the stingiest defensive efforts in the conference. JSU allowed the fewest goals in the conference – sixteen (16) – while posting an goals-against average of 1.15 per game. The team had seven shutouts last season while notching 78 team saves. Moncrieffe ended the 2007 season as a member of the all-conference second team.

In the predicted order of finish, Jackson State and Grambling State were picked to win their respective divisions. In the Western Division, Grambling State garnered ten first-place votes en route to 83 voting points. Southern (six first-place votes) was second with 74 points while Prairie View A&M (four first-place votes) was third with 64 points. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (40 pts) and Texas Southern (36 pts) rounded out the division. In the Eastern Division, Jackson State was chosen first with nine first-place votes as they received 83 points. Alabama A&M – defending champion – was picked second with 80 points while Mississippi Valley State (four first-place votes) received 68 points. Alabama State (35 pts) and Alcorn State (34 pts) close out the divisional list.

Mississippi Valley State had five players chosen for preseason honors – two on the first team. Southern had four selections; Prairie View A&M, Grambling State, Alabama A&M and Jackson State placed three players on the preseason squad while Alcorn State had one player chosen.