DENVER - SMU has been picked to win its fourth-straight WAC title, as selected by the conference coaches. SMU, that finished 7-1 in conference play in 2003, defeated Rice in the final minute of the conference championship match, taking home its third title in as many seasons.
SMU earned eight first-place votes and tallied 64 points to top the poll. Hawaii finished in second place with 55 points and one first place vote, edging Rice who gathered 50 points for third place. In fourth was UTEP that tallied 37 points, while Fresno State was picked to finish fifth with 35 points. In sixth place was Boise State with 28 points, followed by Tulsa (26), San Jose State (18) and Nevada (11).
The Mustangs are led by head coach John Cossaboon, who returns eight starters from his championship squad. Leading the way for the Mustangs will be midfielder Jill Heinemann, forward Olivia ORear, defender Amanda Jordan and goalkeeper Amanda Clark. ORear was tabbed the WACs 2003 Freshman of the Year. Jordan, Heinemann (the 2001 Freshman of the Year) and Clark have all been main stays on the all-WAC teams. This season, SMU has a tough non-conference schedule, including matches against Santa Clara, Stanford, Oklahoma, UCLA and Texas, preparing them for a title-defense run.
Hawaii will look to the WACs top scorer over the past two seasons, Natasha Kai, to help them make its run for the title. Kai led the nation in goals in 2003 with 29 and finished third in points with 62. Also returning for the Wahine are Robyn deHay and Joelle Sugai, both all-WAC selections from a year ago. The Wahine schedule has four NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago, giving them the preparation they need to defend their regular-season title from a year ago.
Rice, who broke the WAC record for goals allowed with 17 in 2003, returns all 11 starters from a year ago, including 19 letterwinners. Leading the way for the Owls is goalkeeper Lauren Shockley who posted a goals against average of 0.80. Senior Sarah Yoder, the Rice career record holder for goals, assists, and points, along with all the seniors, will be the first graduating class for head coach Chris Huston and the four-year-old Owls program.
The WAC soccer season gets underway Friday, August 27 with 23 all-WAC members filling the rosters of this years teams.