Wood Earns Preseason All-Conference Honors

 

August 7, 2024

 

Contact: Matt Present – pr******@ap******.edu

 

ONLINE: https://appstatesports.com/news/2024/8/7/soccer-wood-earns-preseason-all-conference-honors.aspx

 

NEW ORLEANS – App State forward Izzi Wood has been named to the Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference team the league announced Wednesday.

 

Wood joins Lindsey Tully (2016) as the only Mountaineers to earn the distinction in the Sun Belt era.

 

A second team all-conference selection in 2023, Wood returns to the Mountaineers for her fifth season of eligibility. Last year, Wood led the Sun Belt with 79 shots and 34 shots on target, while tying for fifth in the league in both goals and assists. Wood was tied for the conference lead with five game-winning goals, which also placed her 12th nationally.

 

Wood has totaled 13 goals and four assists over the past two seasons since returning from a torn ACL which cost her the 2021 season. The Hickory, N.C. native enters the 2024 campaign ranked ninth in school history for career goals (15) and career shots (143).

 

Additionally, App State earned a first-place vote and was tied for sixth in the 2024 Sun Belt Coaches Poll. It marks the first time since joining the league that the Mountaineers have garnered a first-place vote and represents the highest predicted finish since 2017.

 

In 2023, the Mountaineers set a program record with a third-place conference finish and along the way set all-time marks with eight clean sheets and just 16 goals allowed.

 

App State opens the 2024 season by taking on NC State on Aug. 15 in Raleigh. The Black and Gold will then host Wofford for their home opener on Aug. 22 at 6 p.m.

 

 

2024 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Preseason Awards
 
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Aaliyah Faddoul, Georgia State
 
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Soleil Flores, James Madison

 

Preseason All-Sun Belt Team

F – Amanda Attanasi, James Madison

F – Bri Conley, Georgia Southern

F – Aaliyah Faddoul, Georgia State

F – Monique Gray, South Alabama

F – Izzi Wood, App State

M – Irene Campo, South Alabama

M – Smith Cathey, Georgia Southern

M – Lexi Vanderlinden, James Madison

D – Soleil Flores, James Madison

D – Amber Fortenberry, South Alabama

D – Ashlynn Kulha, Old Dominion

GK – Emily Bredek, Old Dominion

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

 

 

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