OFFICIAL USA SOUTH RELEASE LINK

BREVARD, N.C. – Coming off the program's first USA South Conference postseason appearance, the Brevard College women's soccer team was selected to finish fifth in the West Division, as the conference released its annual Preseason Coaches Poll.

Maryville College, who earned the one-seed in the Spring 2021 USA South Women's Soccer West Division tournament, was selected as preseason favorites on the West side, capturing six first-place votes and 62 points in the poll. Defending USA South West Division Tournament champion Piedmont University placed second, garnering the remaining three first-place votes and 58 points overall.

Covenant College (third, 44 points) and Huntingdon College (fourth, 43 points) narrowly edged out fifth-place Brevard, as the Tornados claimed 40 points in the tabulation. Berea College (sixth, 25 points), LaGrange College (seventh, 19 points), Wesleyan College (eighth, 18 points), and Agnes Scott College (ninth, 15 points) rounded out the nine-team West Division poll.

Brevard enters its Fall campaign following one of its most successful seasons in program history, as the Tornados earned their second conference-level and third overall postseason appearance in the NCAA era – and the first as a member of the USA South – after accumulating a 6-2-1 overall and 6-1 conference record in the Spring 2021 season.

BC returns nearly all of its key contributors from last year's successful campaign while adding nine newcomers to its roster. Goalkeeper Rebeccah Rojas, a graduate student in Brevard's brand new Emergency Management master's program, returns after a highly successful senior campaign where the Murrieta, California native racked up six shutouts, 37 saves, and a .902 save percentage. Rojas ended the Spring 2021 season tied-for-ninth in shutouts in the country en route to a pair of USA South Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week awards, a USA South All-Conference West Division First Team honor, and a United Soccer Coaches Player Awards of Distinction selection.

Alongside Rojas, fellow USA South All-Conference West Division Second Team honorees Emma White and Abbie Worsencroft return to the Tornado backline. Abbie Petrosky, an All-Conference selection in Spring 2021, returns to lead a talented midfield. Petrosky, a native of South Park, Pennsylvania, led all Tornados with four assists and eight points last season. A United Soccer Coaches Player Awards of Distinction recipient, fifth-year senior Sallie Riggan also returns to the Tornado midfield.

Up front, BC returns its top-two goal scorers from the Spring 2021 season, as Taylor Richardson and Ashley Royster each logged three goals a season ago. Richardson was honored by the conference with a USA South Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week award, while Royster was selected as the conference's Player of the Week.

Led by sixth-year Head Coach Juan Mascaro Sr. and third-year Assistant Coach Chelsea Shaughnessy, the Tornados compete in a pair of exhibition contests on Wednesday at Mars Hill University (5 p.m.) and on Saturday at Ives-Lemel Family Field vs. Southern Wesleyan University (7 p.m.) before kicking off the regular season on Thursday, September 2 at 7 p.m. in Emory, Virginia against Emory & Henry College.

 To follow the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Athletics, follow the Tornados on Twitter and Instagram @bctornados, subscribe to 'Brevard College Tornados' on YouTube, follow 'Brevard College Tornados' on SoundCloud, and 'Brevard College Athletics' on Facebook. In addition, follow 'brevardcollege' on Flickr for photos from Brevard College events.

-BC-