Blue Demons Picked Ninth in C-USA Preseason Poll

CHICAGO - Midfielder Julianne Sitch is one of 13 players named to preseason All-Conference USA team. DePaul opens the season on Aug. 29 at Nebraska.

CHICAGO - After rewriting the DePaul women's soccer recordbooks a year ago, sophomore Julianne Sitch has been named to the preseason All-Conference team by the league's 14 head coaches. As a team, the Blue Demons were picked to finish ninth after posting a 10-8-1 overall record and 3-6-1 C-USA mark last season. Defending C-USA Tournament champions Cincinnati was picked to win the league in 2003. The top eight teams at the end of the regular season advance to the league tournament in Tampa, Nov. 5-8.

Sitch, a midfielder, set DePaul's records during her freshman campaign with 21 points on eight goals and five assists. She is just the second Blue Demon to be recognized with C-USA preseason honors joining goalkeeper Kelly Kaiser in 1999. Charlotte's Courtney Crandell was named the preseason Player of the Year after setting C-USA records with 21 goals and 50 points.

In addition to her conference honors, Sitch was also recently named to the W-League's All-Conference team. As a member of the Chicago Cobras, she was one of 33 players from the 26-team league to be recognized. The Cobras will be in Virginia Beach, Va., this weekend playing in the W-League semifinals. Chicago will be joined by Hampton Roads, Ottawa and Seattle. The two semifinal winners will play on Sunday at 5 p.m. in a match televised live on Fox Sports World. Entering this weekend, Sitch is tied for the team lead with 14 points on five goals and four assists.

The W-League is the first national soccer league for women. It provides the most complete women's player pool in the world and is recognized as North America's best women's development organization. The W-League also gives the nation's best college players the opportunity to play alongside established international players while maintaining their collegiate eligibility.

2003 Conference USA Preseason Poll (as selected by C-USA coaches)

1. Cincinnati

2. Charlotte

3. Marquette

4. Saint Louis

5. East Carolina

6. Houston

7. Memphis

8. UAB

9. DePaul

10. South Florida

11. Tulane

12. TCU

13. Southern Miss

14. Louisville

2003 Preseason All-Conference USA Team

Courtney Crandell, So., F, Charlotte*

Kim Moore, Sr., D, Charlotte

Tasha Wagner, Sr., MF, Cincinnati

Julianne Sitch, So, MF/F, DePaul

Penny Perrott, Sr., D, East Carolina

Nikki Hawkins, Jr., MF, Houston

Alison Sinclair, Sr., D, Houston

Kristen Jensen, Sr., MF, Marquette

Anne Ioder, Sr., MF, Marquette

Christie Cigno, So., F/MF, Saint Louis

Jamie Perry, Jr., F, Saint Louis

Tara Kidwell, Jr., F, UAB

Breck Bankester, Jr., GK, South Florida

* Preseason Player of the Year

DePaul University