WAC WSOC Release Week 1
THE 2023 SEASON HAS ARRIVED!
WAC women’s soccer kicks off the 2023 season with a total of 20 matches for week one of the new campaign. Key matchups include Utah Valley at Hawaii, Mississippi State at Grand Canyon and Stephen F. Austin at Oklahoma State.
UTAH VALLEY VOTED AS ‘23 PRESEASON FAVORITE
Utah Valley was predicted to be the top team in the 2023 WAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll. The Wolverines received seven first-place votes and 79 points to the enter the season as the preseason favorite based on polling of the league’s 10 head coaches. Grand Canyon placed second with two first-place votes and 73 points, while Seattle U was tabbed third with one first-place vote and 66 points.
WAC TOP SCORERS GOURLEY AND STAINBROOK THE PRESEASON’S OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Grand Canyon senior forward Gianna Gourley and Utah Valley senior midfielder Heather Stainbrook were selected as the 2023 WAC Preseason Co-Offensive Players of the Year. Gourley was the conference leading scorer, after logging 18 goals and 42 points across 20 matches. Stainbrook was the 2022 WAC Offensive Player of the Year, after finishing second in the WAC with 13 goals, 32 points and tying for seventh in assists (6).
SHEPHERD BACK AS THE PRESEASON DEFENSIVE POTY
Utah Valley redshirt senior Jenna Shepherd was chosen as the 2023 WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, after anchoring the Wolverines defense to six shutouts, including five shutout wins.
SCHUMACHER THE PRESEASON GOTY AFTER RECORD SETTING SEASON
California Baptist redshirt senior Noa Schumacher was voted as the 2023 WAC Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year, after leading the WAC in saves (93) and saves per game (5.81). Schumacher’s 93 saves is a single-season D-1 program record for the Lancers.
TWO-BID LEAGUE
Two teams had not represented the WAC in the NCAA tournament since 2012, as Utah Valley secured its first-ever at-large bid during the 2022 season. WAC schools are looking to continue the trend with a tough non-conference schedule.
ROUND TWO FOR FIVE TEAMS WITH DOUBLE-DIGIT WINS?
Last season, WAC matched the conference record of five teams with double-digit wins that was set in 2009. Utah Valley (14), Grand Canyon (11), Seattle U (11) and Utah Tech (10) all crossed the 10-win plateau in 2022.