NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference women’s soccer head coaches have voted James Madison as the favorite in the 2025 Preseason Coaches Poll, as the league also announced individual honors and its preseason all-conference team.
After sweeping the Sun Belt Conference regular season and tournament titles last season, James Madison received nine first-place votes in a poll of the conference’s 14 head coaches. Sun Belt championship runner-up Texas State received three first-place votes and was picked second, followed by Old Dominion in third with one first-place vote and South Alabama in fourth.
Coastal Carolina was picked fifth, followed by Georgia State in sixth and ULM in seventh, as the three programs were separated by just three total points in the poll.
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James Madison sophomore forward Ginny Lackey was selected as the Sun Belt Conference’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. A 2024 United Soccer Coaches All-American and MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, Lackey racked up Sun Belt Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year accolades in addition to receiving All-Sun Belt First Team honors during her debut campaign. She registered a Sun Belt-leading 34 points in just 16 matches, as her 12 goals tied for first among all players in the league while her 10 assists ranked second.
Texas State junior midfielder Victoria Meza garnered Sun Belt Preseason Midfielder of the Year following a 2024 campaign where she was picked to the United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Third Team. Meza started in 21 of the team’s 22 matches and tallied five goals with two assists while leading the Bobcats to a runner-up finish in the Sun Belt Championship.
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The 2024 Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year, Old Dominion junior defender Ashlynn Kulha collected Sun Belt Preseason Defensive Player of the Year recognition. Kulha pioneered the Monarchs’ defense to nine shutouts while playing every minute in all 20 of the team’s matches last season.
James Madison redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Sofia DeCerb was named Sun Belt Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. A 21-game starter for the Dukes in 2024, DeCerb earned a Sun Belt All-Tournament Team nod to cap a season where she produced a conference-best seven shutouts for the league champions.
James Madison led the way with four Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference Team honorees, followed by App State and Texas State with two apiece. Coastal Carolina, Georgia State and Old Dominion each earned one selection.
The 2025 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Championship will take place November 3-8 in Foley, Ala., marking the 10th consecutive season the Foley Sports Tourism Complex hosts the event.
2025 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Ginny Lackey, James Madison (So., F, Manchester, England)
Preseason Midfielder of the Year:
Victoria Meza, Texas State (Jr., M, San Salvador, El Salvador)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Ashlynn Kulha, Old Dominion (Jr., D, Holly Springs, N.C.)
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year:
Sofia DeCerb, James Madison (R-So., GK, Greensburg, Pa.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
F – Ginny Lackey, James Madison (So., Manchester, England)
F – Aaliyah Faddoul, Georgia State (Jr., Ontario, Canada)
F – Izzi Wood, App State (Gr., Hickory, N.C.)
M – Ellie Garrison, App State (So., Trinity, N.C.)
M – Victoria Meza, Texas State (Jr., San Salvador, El Salvador)
M – Jamie Swartz, James Madison (Sr., Palmyra, Pa.)
D – Eefje Botjer, Coastal Carolina (So., Schiffdorf, Germany)
D – Kennley Bradley, Texas State (Gr., Ogden, Utah)
D – Ashlynn Kulha, Old Dominion (Jr., Holly Springs, N.C.)
D – Jordan Yang, James Madison (Sr., Clifton, Va.)
GK – Sofia DeCerb, James Madison (R-So., Greensburg, Pa.)
2025 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
1. James Madison (9) – 189
2. Texas State (3) – 178
3. Old Dominion (1) – 169
4. South Alabama – 145
5. Coastal Carolina – 117
6. Georgia State – 115
7. ULM – 114
8. App State – 102
9. Georgia Southern – 84
10. Marshall (1) – 68
11. Louisiana – 64
12. Southern Miss – 52
13. Arkansas State – 40
14. Troy – 33
Parentheses indicate first-place votes