WALESKA, Ga. – The Bluefield University women's soccer team was picked to finish 14
th in the 2025 Appalachian Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, the league announced Thursday morning.
THE POLL
| Place |
Team (First-Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
Truett McConnell (11) |
180 |
| 2. |
Tennessee Wesleyan (2) |
169 |
| 3. |
Reinhardt |
148 |
| 4. |
Milligan |
137 |
| 5. |
Montreat |
109 |
| T6. |
Johnson |
107 |
| T6. |
Columbia International |
107 |
| 8. |
Columbia |
91 |
| 9. |
Pikeville |
85 |
| 10. |
Spartanburg Methodist |
74 |
| 11. |
Brenau |
60 |
| 12. |
Union Commonwealth |
47 |
| 13. |
Bryan |
30 |
| 14. |
Bluefield |
21 |
2024 IN REVIEW
The Rams finished 4-11-2 overall with a 2-9-2 record in AAC play. The four wins marked the program's most in a single season since 2017 when BU won six matches. Bluefield's 8-1 win over Penn State Hazleton marked the largest margin of victory since that same 2017 season when BU downed Kentucky Christian 7-0. Two days after the Hazleton win, the Rams topped Penn State Mont Alto to start the season 2-1-0. BU's conference victories came against Kentucky Chirstian and St. Andrews.
2025 SCHEDULE
The 2025 slate opens with three non-conference road matches against Rio Grande (August 21), Alicy Lloyd (August 26) and Bluefield State (September 2). Bluefield's first game at the East River Soccer Complex is a conference game against Reinhardt September 6. Senior day is set for September 27 against Johnson at 12:00 p.m. The Rams clash with AAC poll front runner Truett McConnell in a home contest October 18 and close the regular season against Tennessee Wesleyan on the road October 25.
RETURNING PRODUCTION
BU returns 18 players from last year's roster including 2024 points leader junior
Sara Cox, who scored four goals with two assists for a team-high 10 points. Senior
Joanna Lemus-Rios added two goals last fall while sophomore Emmy Spaulding, senior
Lucy Nicely, sophomore
Moriah Mingo, senior
Coreyn Lutz, sophomore
Taylor Inocelda-Bihag, and sophomore Jayme Crawford each recorded on goal last season. In goal, sophomore
Autumn Matthews returns after starting 14 games and making 95 saves in her freshman campaign.
NEW FACES
First-year head coach
Cade Mullins rounds out this year's roster with five freshmen:
Ireland Hart (Bluefield, Va./Graham),
Luisanyi Jiminez Rodriguez (Haledon, N.J./Machester Regional),
J'Mia Joseph (Stanford, Va./Colonial Forge),
Breana Mathews (Max Meadows, Va./Fort Chiswell), and
Tori Staats (Princeville, Ala./Princeville).
