<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>MACON, Ga.</strong> &ndash; The USC Upstate women's soccer team has been picked to finish 10th according to the Atlantic Sun Conference Preseason Coaches Poll released on Wednesday afternoon from the league office.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Spartans were picked to round out the field in the A-sun, while Florida Gulf Coast is the early favorite to repeat as the A-Sun regular season champion. The Eagles received five first-place votes and collected 91 total points to sit atop the poll, while Jacksonville was second with 85 points and ETSU was picked third with 80 points.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Kennesaw State and North Florida finished in a tie for fourth place with 63 points, with the Owls receiving one of the 10 first-place votes handed out by the head coaches across the league.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mercer was picked sixth with 46 points, Stetson seventh with 37 points, Northern Kentucky eighth with 35 points, Lipscomb ninth with 34 points and the Spartans rounded out the league in 10th place with 16 total points.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">FGCU was also selected as the preseason favorite to win the A-Sun Tournament Championship, receiving five of the 10 possible votes.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Spartans will have a brand new look in 2012 with a new head coach, a new assistant coach and 14 incoming players.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Head coach Abby Minihan and her squad open preseason action Friday evening at home, welcoming Furman University to town for a 7 p.m. scrimmage kickoff at County University Stadium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Following an exhibition contest on the road at Converse on Aug. 14, the Spartans will travel to the state of Virginia to take on VMI to officially open the 2012 season. Kickoff in Lexington is slated for 5:00 p.m.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Follow Upstate women's soccer all season long on your <strong><a href="http://upstatespartans.com/list-signup">mobile device</a></strong>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/UpstateAthletics" target="_blank"><strong>Facebook</strong></a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/upstatespartans" target="_blank"><strong>Twitter</strong></a> and <strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/uscupstateathletics">YouTube</a></strong>.</p>