GREENVILLE, S.C. – Fresh off of their opening round win in last season's Conference Carolina Championship, the Converse University women's soccer team was selected to finish sixth in the 2025 Conference Carolinas Preseason Poll.

It is the Valkyries' highest finish in the preseason poll since being selected to finish fourth in back-to-back years prior to the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

Francis Marion placed first with 206 points and nine first-place votes. UNC Pembroke narrowly missed out on also cracking 200 points, finishing second with 199 points and two first-place votes. Lees-McRae rounded out the top three with 193 points and four first-place votes.

Belmont Abbey was the highest-ranked team not to receive a first-place vote, accumulating 191 points. Young Harris is the final team ranked above the Valkyries with 154 points.

The Valkyries tallied 145 points, eight ahead of Mount Olive in seventh. North Greenville received one first-place vote but came in at eighth in the poll with 115 points.

Narrowly behind the Trailblazers was Barton with 113 points. Emmanuel is the final team over 100 points, sitting at 105 points in tenth place.

Chowan, Southern Wesleyan, King Ferrum, Erskine and Shorter round out the poll.

Seniors Jasmine Hernandez and Savannah Mellon and junior Hannah Liebig were tabbed as Preseason Players to Watch.

Hernandez was selected third team all-conference last season. She played and started in all 19 of the team's games, netting eight goals, a team high, and one assist for 17 points.

Mellon is a two-time third-team all-conference selection. She also played and started in all 19 of the team's games last season, logging two assists for two points. She led the team in minutes played with 1,663.

Liebig also played and started in all 19 games last season. She netted six goals and an assist, totaling 13 points.

The 2025 edition of the Converse Valkyries opens the season on Thursday, Sept. 4, as they travel to Newberry to take on the Newberry Wolves. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 P.M.

Follow Converse
https://www.facebook.com/ConverseValkyries
Twitter: @Valkyries_WSO
Instagram: @Valkyries_Soccer
Youtube.com/Converse Athletics