BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Coming off an 8-6-4 record in 2023 and a 6-5-2 mark in Gulf South Conference play, the Valdosta State women's soccer team learned Tuesday that it is picked sixth in the preseason poll as voted on by the league's coaches.  Blazer junior defender Caroline Kimmel and senior forward Molly Wooldridge were named to the preseason all-conference team.
 
West Florida was tabbed league favorite as the Argonauts topped the preseason poll for the first time since 2019, collecting 143 points and 11 of 12 first-place votes.  UWF enters the 2024 season as the league's defending regular season champion. 
 
Reigning GSC tournament champion Lee was picked second with 129 points and two first-place votes. Mississippi College landed in the third spot with 123 points, followed by Montevallo (110) and Union (95) at fourth and fifth, respectively.
 
The Blazers checked in with 90 points for sixth, while West Alabama collected 72 points, followed by Alabama Huntsville with 70 points.  League newcomer Trevecca Nazarene garnered 52 points for ninth, while Christian Brothers rounded out the top ten with 47 points.  Auburn Montgomery (30), followed by Delta State (29) and Spring Hill College (24) concluded the poll.
 
Kimmel, a Peachtree, Ga., native, played in 16 games with two shots on target and logged 1,208 minutes on the Blazer backline in 2023.  She was named to the GSC Academic Honor Roll and earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors.  For her career, she has played in 30 games with 27 starts, registering three shots with one on frame and logged 2,275 minutes. 
 
Wooldridge, a native of Kennesaw, Ga., earned second team all-league honors in 2023 finishing with seven goals, three assists and 17 points.  She had a team-high 45 shots (.156) with 25 on frame (.556) and three game winners, while logging 1,210 minutes in 18 matches with 12 starts.  Wooldridge has played in 53 matches with 43 starts and has scored 21 goals with six assists for 48 points.  She earned GSC Freshman of the Year honors and second team all-league in 2021 along with the all-league accolades last season.
 
Head coach Stephen Andrew begins his eighth season at the helm of the Blazers as he is 58-46-11 at VSU for the winningest coach in program history.  Andrew is 46-31-7 in GSC play.   He is 198-101-20 all-time in 17 years of coaching at Piedmont College, Huntingdon College and VSU.  
 
The season gets underway on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. at the VSU Soccer Complex versus Middle Georgia, beginning a home slate of ten exciting games.  Tickets are on sale now by calling (229) 333-SEAT 7328) to purchase or at the VSU Athletic Ticket Office in the P.E. Complex.  
 
Season passes are $20, while VSU employees are $15 and seniors/youth are $10.  Individual game adult general admission tickets are $5 and youth/senior general admission tickets are $3.
 
Click here for the 2024 Blazer Women's Soccer Schedule.