LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The steady improvements made the past two years by the Georgia Gwinnett College women’s soccer program haven’t gone unnoticed. The Grizzlies will open the 2019 season next weekend ranked No. 8 in the NAIA Top 25 preseason poll, announced on Aug. 14 by the national office.

With Head Coach Dr. Mike Giuliano, GGC is coming off a 17-4 record, and the program’s first Opening Round victory in the NAIA tournament and advancement to the Round of 16 at the national championship site.

This is the second consecutive season that the program has been ranked in the preseason poll.

Six of Georgia Gwinnett College’s 2019 opponents are ranked in the Top 25 preseason poll, including four teams inside the top 10. The team is scheduled to play three of those matches at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.

Sophomore Joy Mertzig earned honorable mention NAIA All-America team accolades in 2018, after scoring nine goals and providing six assists.

Senior Elisa Randel is the reigning Association of Independent Institutions’ Goalkeeper of the Year and was in goal for 16 of the team’s 17 wins last fall. Fellow classmate and goalkeeper Sophie Hoare has appeared in 38 career matches, tallying 22 victories and five shutouts.

The Grizzlies are scheduled to play five straight road matches to begin the season, beginning with a contest against Bryan College (Tenn.) on Saturday, Aug. 24, at 5 p.m. in Dayton, Tenn. The home opener is set for Sept. 10 against Reinhardt University (Ga.).