The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2013 Soccer Preseason All-Conference teams on Thursday morning.
 
Junior forward Alexandria Cannon was named SWAC's Preseason Player of the Year. Senior forward India Pleasant and sophomore midfielder Anastasia McCleary both received first team All-SWAC honors; while senior defender Stephanie Howard received second team honors.
 
 
“Well you know your preseason All-Conference nominees are based on how the players performed a year ago,” ASU head coach Jodie Smith said. “Certainly, those players had a great season for us. We are expecting them to pick up from where they left off; not only getting to that level, but surpassing what they did last year. We're looking for great things out of that group.” 
 
Cannon earned first-team All-SWAC honors a year ago after tallying a league's best 12 goals and 27 points. The Chattanooga, Tenn., native's three game-winning goals were also the best in the conference.
 
Pleasant scored eight goals while recording two assists for the Hornets last season. The Fontana, Calif. native registered two game-winning goals while tallying 17 points on the season. 
 
McCleary received the SWAC's Freshman of the Year honor last season. The Queensland, Australia native was accounted for 10 goals on the season, which included netting four of her own and assisting with six. She also added a game-winning goal to her resume in a matchup against Alcorn State University.
 
Howard earned second-team All-SWAC honors a year ago after helping the Hornets defense set the program's single-season record for the fewest goals allowed. The Wetumpka, Ala. native also recorded a goal and two assists last season.
 
Alabama State was picked third in the Eastern division with 52 total votes behind Mississippi Valley State University, who was chosen to win the East, received 81 total votes and eleven first place votes. Jackson State University came in second place with 69 votes and four first place votes. 
 
“Being picked for third is alright; given what we did last season,” Smith mentioned about his team being picked for third in the Eastern division. “Our goal this year is to win it. Certainly, win our division first and foremost. Our goal is to try to be the number one seed and have that first round bye and have a chance to win it. We do have a good team and a great chance to win it this season.”
 
The Hornets will wrap up their preseason camp Sunday, August 18 when they host the University of Alabama-Huntsville in an exhibition contest at the ASU Soccer Complex. The contest is set for 2 p.m.      
 
Fans can follow the Hornets this season through Twitter (@asubuzz), Instagram (@asubuzz) and Facebook (facebook.com/asubuzz) in addition to the team's official site, www.bamastatesports.com.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                            -GO Hornets-