BIRMINGHAM, AL --- After winning the 2014 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) regular season and tournament titles in its inaugural season in the league, the Howard women's soccer team has been selected by the conference's coaches and sports information directors to win the SWAC in 2015, the conference announced yesterday.
 
The Bison earned 154 points during the predicted order of finish voting, 24 points ahead of Jackson State (130), who was predicted to finish second. Alabama State (3rd; 129 pts), SWAC Tournament Finalist and league NCAA representative Prairie View A&M (4th; 115) and Texas Southern (5th; 106) rounded out the top five.
 
If Howard is successful in capturing the 2015 SWAC Tournament Championship, the team will be able to accept the SWAC's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament after winning the crown under new member probationary status last season.
 
In addition to Howard's selection as the preseason favorite, the midfield duo of senior Dytria Ruddy and junior Sara Vaughan were named to the Preseason All-SWAC First Team.
 
The 2014 SWAC All-Tournament team selections were mainstays in the Howard lineup - both players saw action in all 23 games in 2014, with Ruddy starting every game and Vaughan starting all but two.
 
Ruddy tallied nine points (four goals, one assist) in 2014, including a pair of goals during the SWAC Tournament. Vaughan added eight points (three goals, two assists) and netted a goal in the SWAC semifinals.
 
KEY 2015 HOWARD WOMEN'S SOCCER DATES
Season Opener: at Radford - Friday, August 21 at 7 p.m.
Home Opener: vs. Hampton - Sunday, August 23 at 1 p.m.
SWAC Opener: at Alabama State - Friday, September 25 (Time TBA)
SWAC Home Opener: vs. Southern - Friday, October 2 at 7 p.m.