AUGUSTA, Ga.- Georgia College & State University soccer was named the fifth team in the Peach Belt Conference preseason coaches poll with 51 votes. 

The defending PBC champions Columbus State University are topping the rankings with nine first-place votes. CSU concluded its season in the NCAA tournament. Flagler College, the University of North Georgia and Lander University sit atop the Bobcats at second, third and fourth places respectively. 

GCSU claims the middle-of-the-pack spot at number five only trailing Lander by three votes. Clayton State University claims the sixth spot with 37 votes. The University of South Carolina-Beaufort and the University of South Carolina-Aiken pick up the seventh and eighth spots while Georgia Southwestern State University claims the ninth spot. Albany State University rounds out the preseason poll with nine votes and the 10th spot on the list. 

GCSU soccer has several key players making their return to the program including Ava Martin (Gainesville) and Sarah Mason (Atlanta) the two leading goal-scorers from last season.

The Bobcats look to improve upon their 2022, 5-8-3 overall record and 4-4-2 PBC record as Jack Marchant kicks off his second year at the helm. 

GCSU starts the regular season on the road at Auburn University at Montgomery on Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. central time with live stats and broadcast links available. 

About GCSU Athletics
Owning the top Academic Success Rate among public schools in Division II in back-to-back academic years, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won three straight Presidents' Awards for Academic Excellence and is a two-time winner of the PBC Commissioner's Cup and a three-time winner of the PBC Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' continued appearances in post-season competition as well as high-level academic success and community service involvement. Bobcat Athletics embodies the mantra of "Graduating Champions for Life." Sign up at @GCSUBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports.