Aug. 15, 2011

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis women's soccer senior defender Lizzy Simonin was ranked 73rd in the TopDrawerSoccer.com's list of the top 100 upperclassmen to watch this season.

"We have extremely high expectations for Lizzy this season," head coach Brooks Monaghan said. "She came into preseason camp extremely fit and motivated. She is approaching each day as a professional and that's all we can ask for. We hope she feeds off of yet another preseason award because she has all the talent in the world and is a big part of this program."

Simonin, the 2010 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year, transitioned from forward to defender last season and helped Memphis to a fourth-straight league title. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native guided the Memphis defense to a regular-season school-record 0.71 goal-against average. A key to Memphis' set pieces, Simonin finished 2-for-2 on penalty kicks and added another goal off a corner kick.

Simonin joins Tishia Jewell of UCF (No. 62) and Tulsa's Jordan O'Brien (No. 95) as the three representatives from C-USA in the top 100. Four Lady Tigers were ranked in the top-20 among C-USA players in the preseason a year ago.

The complete rankings can be found here.

The 2011 season begins on Friday, August 19, with a 7 p.m. match-up with LSU at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. Fans can purchase tickets here or by calling the Memphis Ticket Office at (901) 678-2331.