United Athletic Conference

DENVER— Utah State has been selected as the favorite for the 2010 Western Athletic Conference season as determined by a vote by the league’s nine head coaches. The 2010 WAC preseason all-conference soccer team and Players of the Year were also announced as voted on by the league’s head coaches.

Utah State placed second last season in the WAC with a 5-2-1 regular season record. The Aggies received three first place votes for 59 points. Utah State returns 16 letterwinners, including eight starters from last year’s squad. Boise State was voted to finish second, receiving six first place votes with a tally of 58 total points. The Broncos won the 2009 WAC Tournament championship. Last season’s regular season champion, San Jose State, received 40 points to place third.

Nevada was selected fourth with 36 points. The Wolf Pack tied for third last season with a 5-3-0 record. Fresno State was picked fifth with 35 points after going 4-4-0 in league play in 2009. Hawai‘i (30 points) was picked to finish in sixth place, while Idaho (28 points) and New Mexico State (26 points) were voted in the seventh and eighth spots, respectively. Louisiana Tech, which hosts this seasons WAC Tournament, was selected ninth with 12 points. 

Utah State junior forward Shantel Flanary garnered Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors, while San Jose State junior defender Jessica Ingram was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Flanary is a two-time all-WAC honoree, earning the distinction in both 2008 and 2009. She was also named the WAC’s freshman of the year in 2008. She was also named the 2009 WAC offensive player of the year. Flanary ranked tied for first last season during WAC play in both points (11) and goals (5).

Ingram earned first team all-WAC honors last season. She was named the 2009 WAC defensive player of the year. Ingram anchored the SJSU defense to the lowest goals against averaged in the WAC last year at 0.71.

Boise State led WAC teams with three preseason all-conference selections. Fresno State and Nevada each had two honorees, while Hawai‘i, Idaho, San Jose State and Utah State each had one representative.

The 2010 WAC season is set to kickoff Aug. 21 with all nine teams in action. The WAC Soccer Tournament heads to Lady Techster Soccer Field in Ruston, Louisiana after playing the 2009 Championship in Boise. The six-team tournament will be held November 4-7.

2010 WAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Shantel Flanary, Jr., F, Utah State

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Jessica Ingram, Jr., D, San Jose State