Reigning PBC women's soccer regular season and tournament champions Columbus State have been voted as preseason favorites to take home the 2025 title. The Cougars received eight first place votes from the league's coaches, with North Georgia receiving two first place votes and Flagler receiving one. Lander and GCSU completed the top five followed in order by Clayton State, Georgia Southwestern, USC Beaufort, USCA, Middle Georgia and Albany State. 

The preseason coaches' poll is below followed by the All-Conference team. Coaches were not permitted to rank their own teams or vote for their own players.

Columbus State added three trophies to their collection in 2024, as the Cougars took home the PBC regular season title, PBC tournament title and the NCAA Southeast Region title. Their success didn't end there as the Cougars continued their run to the NCAA Semifinals. Five Cougars were named All-American by the D2CCA/ United Soccer Coaches, and three Cougars were named USC Scholar All-Americans while Avery Williams received the NCAA Elite 90 award at the NCAA Championship. Columbus State sees the return of All-Americans Sarah Hungerford, Kelsey Croft & Avery Williams, as well as Scholar All-American Heidi Harris. The Cougars have also been ranked #2 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason rankings. 

North Georgia completed the 2024 regular season in second place. The Nighthawks earned the #3 seed in the NCAA Southeast Region where they defeated Wingate in the first round, before knocking off conference foe Lander to secure their spot in the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship for the second time in program history, and the first time since 2016. The Nighthawks fell to Columbus State in the Southeast Region Championship, closing out the season with a 13-4-3 record. For 2025, North Georgia sees the return PBC All-Conference selections, Bailey Oetinger and Adleigh Wheeler, and PBC All-Tournament Team selection Alizee Buresi. The Nighthawks enter the season at #12 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason rankings. 

Flagler have been voted to finish in third place for the 2025 season as they look to build upon last season. The Saints closed out the regular season in third, and advanced to the PBC Tournament Championship where they conceded a last-minute goal to lose 1-0 to Columbus State. Flagler received the #5 seed in the NCAA Southeast Region and closed the 2024 season with an 8-4-6 record. Standout forward Andrea Fernandez was named the Ron Lenz/ D2CCA National Player of the Year and was named United Soccer Coaches All- American to close out her collegiate career. Two PBC All-Conference selections return for the Saints for the 2025 season in Paige Churchill and Grace Simon. PBC All-Conference selection and D2CCA All-American Carrie Consolino also joins the squad from Clayton State.

Lander found themselves in 5^th place in the PBC regular season standings, but a tough regular season didn't stop them from making history in 2024. The Bearcats earned the #7 seed in the NCAA Southeast Region, their second NCAA Tournament bid in program history and first since 2018. Lander came back from 2-0 down to knock off #2 seeded Lenoir Rhyne in double overtime for their first NCAA Tournament win in program history. The Bearcats ended their season with a 9-4-5 record. Lander enter the 2025 season receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason rankings, as PBC all-conference selections Maren White and Angele Hills return to the roster. 

 

Rank	Team	Points
1.	Columbus State (8)	97
2.	North Georgia (2)	90
3.	Flagler (1)	86
4.	Lander	69
5.	GCSU	63
6.	Clayton State	56
7.	Georgia Southwestern	45
8.	USC Beaufort	37
9.	USCA	27
10.	Middle Georgia	22
11.	Albany State	10

2025 Preseason All-Conference Team

Abigail Akerson, Columbus State
 Senior, Midfielder

• Played in 24 games, starting 21
• Scored 10 goals and assisted 2 for 22 points
• PBC All Conference Second Team
• PBC Team of Academic Distinction
• PBC Elite 18 Award recipient

Lucy Bova, Lander
Senior, Defender/Midfielder

• Played 17 games, started 16
• Held opponents scoreless 8 times
• Scored 3 goals for 6 points, one game-winning goal
• PBC All Conference Second Team
• PBC Team of Academic Distinction

Paige Churchill, Flagler
Junior, Forward

• Started all 18 games
• Scored 9 goals and assisted 8 for 26 points, two game-winning goals,
• PBC All Conference First Team
• PBC Team of Academic Distinction

 
Alex Clark, North Georgia
Senior, Defender

• Started all 20 games
• Held opponents scoreless 8 times, 0.85 goals against average
• Scored 2 goals and assisted 3 for 7 points
• PBC Team of Academic Distinction
• United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-Southeast Region

 
Carrie Consolino, Flagler
Senior, Forward

• Started all 17 games
• Second in the nation with 19 goals and 4 assists for 42 points
• PBC All Conference First Team
• PBC All-Tournament Team
• D2CCA First Team All-Southeast Region
• United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-Southeast Region
• D2CCA Second Team All-American

Kelsey Croft, Columbus State
Junior, Defender/ Midfielder

• Started all 25 games
• Held opponents to just 12 goals in the season, 7.2 shots per game
• PBC All Conference First Team
• PBC Team of Academic Distinction
• D2CCA First Team All-Southeast Region
• D2CCA Third Team All-American

Heidi Harris, Columbus State
Senior, Goalkeeper

• Started all 25 games
• Totaled 50 saves for a 0.847 save percentage, allowing just 9 goals for a 0.40 GAA
• PBC Defensive Player of the Year
• PBC All Conference First Team
• PBC Team of Academic Distinction
• United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Southeast Region
• D2CCA Second Team All-Southeast Region
• United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American Second Team 

Sarah Hungerford, Columbus State
Senior, Midfielder

• Started all 25 games
• Led the team with 12 goals, 4 game winning goals and 4 assists for 28 points, 
• PBC All Conference First Team
• D2CCA/ United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Southeast Region
• D2CCA Second Team All-American
• United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American

 
Amiah Sprunger-Hightower, Clayton State
Senior, Forward

• Played 17 games, started 12
• Scored 11 goals, 3 game winning goals and assisted 6 for 28 points
• Scored 4 goals in two matches in 2024 (Albany State and Shorter)
• PBC All Conference First Team

 
 
Adleigh Wheeler, North Georgia
Senior, Midfielder

• Played and started 16 games 
• Scored 4 goals and assisted 3 for 11 points, 2 game winning goals
• PBC Team of Academic Distinction
• PBC All Conference Second Team
• United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-Southeast Region

 
Avery Williams, Columbus State
Senior, Defender/Midfielder

• Started all 25 games
• Held opponents to just 12 goals in the season, 7.2 shots per game
• PBC All Conference First Team
• PBC Team of Academic Distinction
• United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Southeast Region
• D2CCA Second Team All-Southeast Region
• United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American Second Team
• United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American
• NCAA DII Women's Soccer Elite 90 Award Recipient
• PBC Scholar Athlete of the Year