BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Gulf South Conference announced women's soccer preseason polls and top newcomers for the fall 2021 season after taking a season off due to the pandemic.
Representing West Alabama, standout senior Anele Komani was named to the All-GSC Preseason Team while freshmen Dana Cruz and Amy Denholm were listed as top newcomers.
Komani, a midfielder from London, England, returns to UWA for her final season as a Tiger. Komani has played in 60 games and started in 56 of them. She has scored 24 goals during her career as a Tiger and has had 16 assists.
Komani has collected multiple accolades while at UWA. She has been named First Team All-Conference all four years (2017-2020), earned a spot on UWA Women's Soccer Team of the Decade, and was an Honorable Mention for the GSC Women's Soccer Team of the Decade.
The midfielder has been also been named D2CCA South All-Region First Team (2018), GSC Fall Academic Honor Roll (2018, 2020), USC South All-Region Second Team (2017, 2018), D2CCA South All-Region Second Team (2017, 2019), GSC Freshman of the Year (2017), and GSC Freshman of the Week twice (2017).
Cruz, a midfielder from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, enters her first season as a Tiger. Cruz graduated from Fort Walton Beach High School and was named the 2021 All-State player for the Vikings.
Denholm, the Penicuik, Scotland native, is also entering her first season as a Tiger. The defender graduated from Beeslack Community High School in 2021. She will be majoring in sociology at UWA.
Full list of All-GSC Preseason Team | Full list of top newcomers
GSC Preseason Coaches Polls
The Tigers open up their season Friday, Sept. 3 at the CSU Collegiate Invitational in Columbus, Georgia against Rollins College.
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