University of Tennessee Athletics
Photo by: Tennessee Athletics
Three Vols Selected To TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Best XI Teams
August 20, 2019 | Soccer
CULVER CITY, Calif. -- Three Tennessee soccer players were announced as members of the TopDrawerSoccer.com Preseason Best XI teams, the publication announced Tuesday.
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Redshirt senior midfielder Katie Cousins was named preseason First Team Best XI, while redshirt senior defender Maya Neal was tabbed as a Third Team honoree. Rookie midfielder Isabella Cook rounds out the Vols who were recognized, claiming a spot on the Freshman Best XI.
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Cousins enjoyed the best season of her college career during Tennessee's historic 2018 campaign, logging career highs in goals (3), assists (4) and points (10) last fall. The holding midfielder was selected First Team All-SEC, First Team All-Region and Third Team All-America in addition to being named Second Team Best XI by TopDrawerSoccer following the 2018 season.
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Neal led Tennessee with 1,810 minutes at center back last season, guiding the Vols' defensive unit to a record-setting season that featured the most shutouts (12) and fewest goals allowed (15) in program history. The Naperville, Ill. native was tabbed First Team All-SEC and First Team All-Region as a redshirt junior in 2018.
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Cook joined the Tennessee soccer program as a U-19 United States national pool midfielder from Elmhurst, Ill. - just 18 miles outside of Chicago. She represented the U.S. at the Nike U-20 Friendlies in December of 2018, scoring the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over China. She was ranked by IMG Academy as the No. 1 midfielder in her age group from the Midwest region.
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THREE VOLS IN THE TOP 100: TopDrawerSoccer also released its Women's National Top 100 on Tuesday, ranking the top-100 sophomores, juniors and seniors among NCAA Division I programs.
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Tennessee was one of 11 programs nationwide and one of two SEC schools with three or more student-athletes inside the National Top 100:
SEASON OPENER: The Vols officially begin the 2019 season Thursday, Aug. 22, hosting the Fordham Rams in a non-conference matchup. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Regal Soccer Stadium, and admission is free of charge.
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For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee soccer, follow @Vol_Soccer on Twitter.
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Redshirt senior midfielder Katie Cousins was named preseason First Team Best XI, while redshirt senior defender Maya Neal was tabbed as a Third Team honoree. Rookie midfielder Isabella Cook rounds out the Vols who were recognized, claiming a spot on the Freshman Best XI.
Â
Cousins enjoyed the best season of her college career during Tennessee's historic 2018 campaign, logging career highs in goals (3), assists (4) and points (10) last fall. The holding midfielder was selected First Team All-SEC, First Team All-Region and Third Team All-America in addition to being named Second Team Best XI by TopDrawerSoccer following the 2018 season.
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Neal led Tennessee with 1,810 minutes at center back last season, guiding the Vols' defensive unit to a record-setting season that featured the most shutouts (12) and fewest goals allowed (15) in program history. The Naperville, Ill. native was tabbed First Team All-SEC and First Team All-Region as a redshirt junior in 2018.
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Cook joined the Tennessee soccer program as a U-19 United States national pool midfielder from Elmhurst, Ill. - just 18 miles outside of Chicago. She represented the U.S. at the Nike U-20 Friendlies in December of 2018, scoring the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over China. She was ranked by IMG Academy as the No. 1 midfielder in her age group from the Midwest region.
Â
THREE VOLS IN THE TOP 100: TopDrawerSoccer also released its Women's National Top 100 on Tuesday, ranking the top-100 sophomores, juniors and seniors among NCAA Division I programs.
Â
Tennessee was one of 11 programs nationwide and one of two SEC schools with three or more student-athletes inside the National Top 100:
- No. 5 - Katie Cousins
- No. 28 - Maya Neal
- No. 98 - MA Vignola
SEASON OPENER: The Vols officially begin the 2019 season Thursday, Aug. 22, hosting the Fordham Rams in a non-conference matchup. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Regal Soccer Stadium, and admission is free of charge.
Â
For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee soccer, follow @Vol_Soccer on Twitter.
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