DENVER ?“ The Western Athletic Conference announces its 2005 Preseason all-WAC team and Players of the Year as voted on by the coaches. Fresno State leads the team with three players. Boise State, Hawai'i, Nevada and San Jose State all placed two on the team. Two-time WAC Player of the Year and the 2004 Preseason Player of the Year, Natasha Kai of Hawai'i, was named the 2005 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Fresno State junior Rochelle Jagdeo was tabbed as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Kai earned first-team all-WAC honors in the 2004 along with a second-team all-West Region selection. The Kahuku, Oahu, native, led Hawai'i in scoring with 29 points on 12 goals and five assists. She set a WAC record with 130 shots in 2004 and 49 in WAC play. Kai currently stands third on the WAC?™s all-time list for goals with 57, 10 short of second.
Jagdeo, a Vacaville, Calif., native, earns the WAC?™s first Defensive Player of the Year honor. The WAC will now honor both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball for the preseason and postseason. Jagdeo was a second-team all-WAC selection in 2004, anchoring a defense that allowed just over 11 shots a match.s
There are 11 selections on this season?™s preseason squad. At the forward position is Kai, Fresno State junior junior Cortney Sobrero and San Jose State sophomore Nicole Irwin. In the midfield, there is Hawai'i sophomore Jessica Domingo, Fresno State junior Erika Sugano and Nevada junior Naomi Hernandez. On defense, Boise State?™s Stephanie Campbell, Jagdeo, Lauren Kinneman of Nevada and Jackie Cruz of San Jose State were selected. Boise State junior Kim Parker was named to the team as goalkeeper.
2005 Preseason All-WAC Team
Nicole Irwin, Forward, So., San Jose State
Natasha Kai, Forward, Sr., Hawai'i
Cortney Sobrero, Forward, Jr., Fresno State
Jessica Domingo, Midfielder, So., Hawai'i
Naomi Hernandez, Midfielder, Jr., Nevada
Erika Sugano, Midfielder, Jr., Fresno State
Stephanie Campbell, Defender, Jr., Boise State
Jackie Cruz., Defender, So., San Jose State
Rochelle Jagdeo, Defender, Jr., Fresno State
Lauren Kinneman, Defender, Jr., Nevada
Kim Parker, Goalkeeper Jr., Boise State
Preseason Players of the Year
Offensive: Natasha Kai, Forward, Hawai'i, Sr.
Defensive: Rochelle Jagdeo, Defender, Fresno State, Jr.