August 11, 2025

Coastal Carolina Women’s Soccer Team Ranked Fifth

Myrtle Beach, SC, August 11, 2025

News Summary

Eefje Botjer of Coastal Carolina University has been selected for the 2025 Sun Belt preseason team, while the Coastal Carolina women’s soccer team has secured a fifth-place ranking in the 2025 Sun Belt preseason coaches’ poll. Botjer, a standout freshman goalkeeper, started all matches during her inaugural season, achieving six shutouts and impressive stats. The team prepares for a competitive season, facing formidable opponents, with James Madison University leading the preseason poll.

Myrtle Beach, SC – Eefje Botjer of Coastal Carolina University has been named to the 2025 Sun Belt preseason team, while the Coastal Carolina women’s soccer team has been ranked fifth in the 2025 Sun Belt preseason coaches’ poll. These announcements come as the team prepares for the upcoming season in the Sun Belt Conference.

Botjer, a freshman goalkeeper from Schiffdorf, Germany, had an impressive inaugural season, starting all 19 matches in 2024. She notably contributed to six shutouts and maintained a strong 1.16 goals-against average, which placed her fifth in the Sun Belt for that statistical category. During the past season, she recorded one assist against Southern Miss and accumulated a team-leading 1,482 minutes on the pitch.

The preseason rankings have been led by James Madison University, the reigning Sun Belt regular-season and tournament champions, who topped the poll with 189 points and received nine first-place votes. Following them is Texas State, ranked second with 178 points and three first-place votes. Old Dominion secured third place with 169 points and one first-place vote, while South Alabama finished fourth with 145 points. Coastal Carolina’s ranking of fifth reflects a total of 117 points in the poll.

In terms of team rankings, Georgia State comes in sixth with 115 points, while ULM recorded 114 points for seventh place. Appalachian State is at eighth with 102 points, followed by Georgia Southern in ninth with 84 points. The bottom five teams include Marshall, Louisiana, Southern Miss, Arkansas State, and Troy, indicating a competitive landscape within the Sun Belt Conference.

Alongside the rankings, individual accolades have also been announced. The Preseason Offensive Player of the Year is Ginny Lackey from James Madison, while Texas State’s Victoria Meza has been named Preseason Midfielder of the Year. The Preseason Defensive Player of the Year is Ashlynn Kulha from Old Dominion, and Sofia DeCerb from James Madison has been recognized as the Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.

The recognition of Eefje Botjer and Coastal Carolina’s positioning in the preseason poll illustrate the team’s potential and the growing competitiveness in women’s soccer within the Sun Belt Conference. As the season approaches, fans and sports analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the teams perform, especially Coastal Carolina, under the leadership of Botjer.

This year’s preseason All-Sun Belt team features a number of rising stars from various universities, highlighting the depth of talent in the conference and setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.

FAQ

Who is Eefje Botjer?

Eefje Botjer is a freshman goalkeeper for Coastal Carolina University’s women’s soccer team. She started all matches in her first season and earned selection to the 2025 Sun Belt preseason team.

What position did Coastal Carolina rank in the preseason poll?

Coastal Carolina was ranked fifth in the 2025 Sun Belt preseason coaches’ poll.

Who were the top-ranked teams in the 2025 Sun Belt preseason poll?

The top-ranked teams were James Madison (1st), Texas State (2nd), and Old Dominion (3rd).

Key Features Overview

Feature	Details
Eefje Botjer	Freshman goalkeeper, named to all-preseason team, started all matches in 2024
Coastal Carolina Ranking	Ranked fifth in the 2025 Sun Belt preseason coaches’ poll
Top Preseason Team	James Madison, 189 points and 9 first-place votes
Individual Awards	Preseason Offensive Player: Ginny Lackey; Midfielder: Victoria Meza; Defensive Player: Ashlynn Kulha; Goalkeeper: Sofia DeCerb
Upcoming Season	Teams preparing for a competitive season in the Sun Belt Conference