Eastern soccer picked No. 1 in preseason Big Sky Conference poll

 

Last updated 8/10/2017 at 12:06pm



Following its first Big Sky Conference tournament championship in program history, the Eastern Washington University women’s soccer team was picked to finish first in the Big Sky Conference Preseason Soccer Poll, the conference announced Aug. 7.

The projection sets another milestone under fourth-year head coach Chad Bodnar, as it marks the highest ranking ever in the BSC preseason poll for the Eagles. Eastern picked up 95 total points and received eight first-place votes. Northern Arizona was picked to finish second with 80 points and had one first-place vote. Idaho (fourth) and Northern Colorado (fifth) also received one first-place vote.

“It’s always nice to have our program recognized as continually improving and getting better by other staffs in the conference. We are proud of the progress we have made here in the last few years,” Bodnar said. “The truth is, none of the preseason polls affect regular season results. We have to work harder than ever before to finish where we want to at the end of the year and I think our group is ready to take on that challenge.”

The 2016 season was a banner year for the Eagles.They won the conference tournament championship after defeating Northern Arizona 4-3 on penalty kicks and earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament. EWU won a program record 13 matches and also set records in goals (44), assists (37) and shutouts (8).

The Eagles return nine starters for the 2017 season, including back-to-back Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year, Chloe Williams. Big Sky First-Team honorees Jenny Chavez and M’Kenna Hayes, along with honorable mentions Delaney Romero and Aimie Inthoulay also return for Eastern.

The 2017 campaign kicks off on Friday, Aug. 18 as Eastern takes on Omaha in the first of a program record 11 matches on the EWU Soccer Field in Cheney. The following Sunday (Aug. 20) the Eagles play host to South Dakota at 11 a.m. PT. All Eastern Washington soccer matches are free to the public.

2017 Big Sky Conference Preseason Soccer Poll

Rank/Team Votes

1. Eastern Washington 95 (8)

2. Northern Arizona 80 (1)

3. Montana 76

4. Idaho 75 (1)

5. Northern Colorado 68 (1)

6. Sacramento State 60

7. Weber State 51

8. Idaho State  33

9. Portland Stat 32

10. Southern Utah 20

11. North Dakota 15

(First Place Votes)

 

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