NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference women’s soccer head coaches have voted Old Dominion as the favorite in the 2024 Preseason Coaches Poll, as the league also announced its preseason all-conference teams and individual honors.

Georgia State sophomore forward Aaliyah Faddoul was selected as the Sun Belt Conference’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Faddoul was the 2023 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year and an All-Sun Belt First Team selection during her debut campaign. She led the Panthers in points (20), goals (7), assists (6) and shots per game (2.95). Faddoul was also a two-time Sun Belt Player of the Week honoree.

James Madison junior defender Soleil Flores collected Sun Belt Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading her team’s back line in 2023 en route to an NCAA Tournament appearance. Flores earned All-Sun Belt Second Team recognition and was named to the Sun Belt’s All-Tournament Team in 2023 following the Dukes’ run to the championship match.

  

James Madison and South Alabama led the way with three Preseason All-Conference Team selections, respectively, as Georgia Southern and Old Dominion compiled two picks apiece.
 
Following back-to-back Sun Belt Conference Tournament titles, Old Dominion received seven first-place votes and was picked to win the league in a poll of the conference’s 14 head coaches. James Madison received three first-place votes and was picked second, followed by ULM in third and a tie between Georgia Southern and Georgia State for fourth place.
 
The 2024 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Championship will take place November 4-9 in Foley, Ala., marking the ninth consecutive season the Foley Sports Tourism Complex hosts the event.

2024 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Preseason Awards
 
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Aaliyah Faddoul, Georgia State (So., F, Ontario, Canada)
 
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Soleil Flores, James Madison (Jr., D, Nokesville, Va.)
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
F – Amanda Attanasi, James Madison (Sr., Washington Township, N.J.)
F – Bri Conley, Georgia Southern (Jr., Midland, Ga.)
F – Aaliyah Faddoul, Georgia State (So., Ontario, Canada)
F – Monique Gray, South Alabama (Sr., St. Petersburg, Fla.)
F – Izzi Wood, App State (Gr., Hickory, N.C.)
M – Irene Campo, South Alabama (So., Santander, Spain)
M – Smith Cathey, Georgia Southern (Sr., Madison, Ga.)
M – Lexi Vanderlinden, James Madison (R-Sr., Seminole, Fla.)
D – Soleil Flores, James Madison (Jr., Nokesville, Va.)
D – Amber Fortenberry, South Alabama (Sr., Hattiesburg, Miss.)
D – Ashlynn Kulha, Old Dominion (So., Holly Springs, N.C.)
GK – Emily Bredek, Old Dominion (Sr., Huntington Beach, Calif.)
Ties were not broken.
 
2024 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
 
1. Old Dominion (7) – 181
2. James Madison (3) – 177
3. ULM – 138
T4. Georgia Southern – 134
T4. Georgia State (1) – 134
T6. App State (1) – 126
T6. South Alabama (1) – 126
8. Texas State – 118
9.  Louisiana – 74
T10. Arkansas State – 57
T10. Southern Miss – 57
12. Coastal Carolina – 55
13. Marshall (1) – 48
14. Troy – 45
Parentheses indicate first-place votes