Women's Soccer Chosen Third in C-USA Preseason Poll

Aug. 2, 2016

IRVING, Texas- The Florida Atlantic University women's soccer team has been voted third in the All-Conference USA Preseason Poll, with two members garnering three All-Conference honors, as announced by the league office on Tuesday afternoon.

In addition to the team's finish in the coaches' poll, senior teammates Erica Burt and Sydney Drinkwater were chosen to the Preseason All-C-USA Team. Drinkwater is the lone goalkeeper on the squad, while Burt was chosen as a defender, and she shares honors with two other conference opponents as preseason Defensive Player of the Year as well. FAU is one of only two teams, along with Rice, to have multiple players named to the team.

The Owls are coming off of a season in which they finished tied for third in C-USA with a 6-3-1 mark under third-year head coach Patrick Baker (and a 12-8-1 overall record). The defense, led by Burt and Drinkwater, was dominant down the stretch, with shutouts in each of the last six regular season matches ahead of the team's first ever C-USA postseason appearance.

"We are excited to start the 2016 women's soccer campaign and feel we have a very talented squad," said Baker. "The opportunity to be recognized by the C-USA coaches in the preseason poll is rewarding, but there are a lot of high-level games to be played between now and October 28th. I'm sure based on last year's placement and the strength of our incoming class, many people expect us to have a successful fall."

North Texas was voted the preseason favorites, with Rice second. Behind FAU and rounding out the top five are Marshall, and in a tie for fifth, Middle Tennessee and Old Dominion. Burt was named Defensive POY along with Rice's Jasmine Isokpunwu and Aleah Davis of UTEP. Charlotte midfielder Martha Thomas was chosen Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

"Having Erica and Sydney honored by our C-USA coaches is exciting for them and our program," said Baker. "They both have worked hard on and off the field and we expect them to have big senior years. Erica has proven to be an exceptional defender and helped anchor our back four last fall. Sydney is on pace to set many goalkeeping records this year and potentially graduate as one of the best keepers to ever play at FAU. Both are captains this year and have done a wonderful job of leading our team through the spring and summer seasons."

2016 C-USA PRESEASON POLL (As selected by C-USA coaches)
1. North Texas
2. Rice
3. Florida Atlantic
4. Marshall
T5. Middle Tennessee
T5. Old Dominion
7. Charlotte
8. WKU
9. FIU
10. UTEP
11. Louisiana Tech
12. UAB
13. Southern Miss
14. UTSA

2016 C-USA PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Martha Thomas, Charlotte, Jr., MF

2016 C-USA PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Erica Burt, Florida Atlantic, Sr., D
Jasmine Isokpunwu, Rice, Sr., D
Aleah Davis, UTEP, Sr., D/MF

2016 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE USA TEAM

Name School Yr. Pos. Hometown

Martha Thomas Charlotte Jr. MF Weston, Florida

Erica Burt Florida Atlantic Sr. D Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

Sydney Drinkwater Florida Atlantic Sr. GK Merritt Island, Florida

Kathryn Sloan Louisiana Tech Sr. F Kansas City, Missouri

Sydney Arnold Marshall Sr. MF Stafford, Virginia

Cameron Cox Middle Tennessee Jr. MF Roswell, Georgia

Rachel Holden North Texas Sr. F Lancaster, Texas

Iris Achterhof Old Dominion So. F Groningen, Netherlands

Samantha Chaiken Rice Jr. MF Dallas, Texas

Jenny Fichera Rice Sr D Ann Arbor, Michigan

Jasmine Isokpunwu Rice Sr. D Austin, Texas

Aleah Davis UTEP Sr. D/MF Hewitt, Texas

Hannah Chua WKU Jr. MF Claremont, California

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Players Mentioned

Erica Burt

Erica Burt

Sydney Drinkwater

Sydney Drinkwater

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Women's Soccer versus U19 Canada Rush on April 9, 2026 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Soccer versus Florida Gulf Coast on April 11, 2026 at 6 p.m.

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