JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Eastern Kentucky University's
Ella Grode and
Chiara Premoli were named to the Preseason All-ASUN Conference Team and the Colonels were picked to finish third in the league's preseason coaches' poll, the conference office announced Thursday afternoon.
The preseason recognition marks a pair of firsts for EKU as member of the Atlantic Sun Conference. It is the first time the Colonels have had two players named preseason all-conference and the third-place prediction is the highest preseason ranking since joining the league.
Grode, a sophomore forward from Avon Lake, Ohio, led EKU in nearly every offensive category last season, helping the Colonels to a runner-up finish in the ASUN Tournament. She recorded six goals, five assists, 17 points, 29 shots on goal, and 58 total shots, earning Second Team All-ASUN, ASUN All-Freshman Team, and United Soccer Coaches All-South Region honors.
In conference play, Grode netted goals against Stetson, West Georgia, Bellarmine, and FGCU during the ASUN Tournament. She attempted a season-high six shots in three separate matches and registered four shots on goal in two games. She ranked top 10 in the conference in several offensive categories.
Premoli, a junior midfielder from Italy, is coming off one of the most impactful seasons in EKU history. She set program records for single-season and single-game assists, finishing the year with seven total assists, including three in a home win over Bellarmine on Oct. 25, 2024.
Following the season, Premoli earned Second Team All-ASUN, ASUN All-Tournament Team, and USC All-South Region honors, the first such accolades of her career.
The Colonels were selected to finish third in the preseason coaches' poll after posting a 12-8-3 overall record and a 7-3-1 conference mark in 2024. The program also reached the ASUN Tournament finals for the first time as a member of the league, defeating top-seed FGCU on their home pitch. EKU set program records for points (89), assists (31), and shots attempted (287), while finishing second all-time in goals (29) and shots on goal (121).
Lipscomb enters the season as preseason favorite picking up eight first-place votes and 138 points. FGCU came in second in the poll with four first-place votes and 134 points. Right behind the Colonels who claimed 112 points for third, Central Arkansas rounds out the top four with 108 points.
EKU opens the 2025 season at home on Aug. 14 against Toledo at 2 p.m. ET. Admission is free to the EKU Soccer Field for the duration of the season.
