United Athletic Conference

DENVER- Utah Valley and Seattle U are co-favorites to win the 2016 Western Athletic Conference women's soccer title as determined by a vote of the league's eight head coaches. The 2016 WAC preseason all-conference women's soccer team and preseason Players of the Year were also selected by the league's head coaches.

SU and UVU each received four first-place votes and three second-place votes for 46 total points. It was a fitting result, as the teams were even at the top of the standings much of last season. The Redhawks claimed the regular season title with a victory over UVU in the final match of the season, while the Wolverines got revenge with a win in the championship match of the WAC Tournament to claim the title and the automatic NCAA berth.

The Wolverines return eight starters from a team that went 14-7-1 (7-2-1 in the WAC) in 2015 and advanced to the first-ever NCAA Tournament game in school history, falling 1-0 to Brigham Young. The Redhawks went 8-0-2 in WAC play (14-3-3 overall) and return six starters from last season, along with two veterans from the 2014 NCAA Tournament squad who redshirted last season.

UMKC ranks third in the poll, receiving 32 points, including one second-place vote. The ‘Roos finished tied for second in WAC play last season with a 7-2-1 record and return 10 starters.

CSUB ranks fourth in the poll with 31 points and Grand Canyon is fifth with 27 points, including a second place vote. NM State is sixth with 19 points, UT Rio Grande Valley is seventh with 16 points and Chicago State was selected eighth.

UMKC sophomore forward Lexie Howard garnered Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors and Utah Valley senior defender Kalli Suesue was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Howard, a second team all-WAC honoree last season, led the WAC with a team-high 13 goals and recorded four assists for 30 points. Her 13 goals and 30 points were the second-best season totals in UMKC history. The 13 goals are already the third-best in a career for a UMKC.

Suesue helped anchor UVU's defense to an impressive eight shutout victories on the season as the Wolverines advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The UVU's defense allowed one or less goals in 16 of the team's 22 matches. She added six shots on the season, including two on goal.

Five WAC schools were represented on the Preseason All-WAC Team, led by Seattle U with three preseason all-conference selections. CSUB, GCU, UMKC and UVU each had two honorees.

The 2016 WAC season is set to kickoff Aug. 19 with every team in action. The WAC Soccer Tournament heads to UMKC's Durwood Soccer Stadium this year and will be held November 3-4 and 6.