WAC Coaches Select Seattle U, Tripp, Adam as Preseason Favorites
DENVER – Seattle U is the preseason favorite to win the 2020-21 Western Athletic Conference women's soccer title and Utah Valley's Amber Tripp and SU's Michele Adam were selected as the WAC Preseason Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year respectively in a vote of the league's eight head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players.
The Redhawks received five of eight first-place votes for 46 total points to earn the preseason nod by just two points over Utah Valley, who collected the remaining three first-place votes and 44 points. California Baptist was picked third with 37 points, followed by Grand Canyon in fourth with 31 points. UT Rio Grande Valley is predicted fifth with 25 points, followed by NM State in sixth, Dixie State in seventh and Chicago State in eighth.
Tripp is joined on the Preseason All-WAC team by teammates Jenna Shepard, Katie Haskins and Isabel Jones-Dawe. Adam was one of two Redhawks honored as teammate Leahi Manthei was also recognized. Grand Canyon also had two players honored as Lindsey Prokop and Marleen Schmimmer represented the Lopes. Also earning honors were California Baptist's Erin Gallagher, Chicago State's Sara Quevedo and UT Rio Grande Valley's Emily Zapata.
2020-21 Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
Seattle U (5) |
46 |
| 2. |
Utah Valley (3) |
44 |
| 3. |
California Baptist |
37 |
| 4. |
Grand Canyon |
31 |
| 5. |
UT Rio Grande Valley |
25 |
| 6. |
NM State |
18 |
| 7. |
Dixie State |
13 |
| 8. |
Chicago State |
10 |
2020-21 Preseason All-WAC Team
Emily Zapata, Jr., F, UT Rio Grande Valley
Lindsey Prokop, So., F, Grand Canyon
Leahi Manthei, Sr., F, Seattle U
Amber Tripp, R-Sr., MF, Utah Valley
Marleen Schimmer, Jr., MF, Grand Canyon
Sara Quevedo, Sr., MF, Chicago State
Erin Gallagher, Jr., D, California Baptist
Jenna Shepherd, R-So., D, Utah Valley
Michele Adam, So., D, Seattle U
Katie Haskins, R-So., D, Utah Valley
Isabel Jones-Dawe, R-Sr., GK, Utah Valley
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Amber Tripp, Utah Valley
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Michele Adam, Seattle U