MONMOUTH, Ore. --- The Western Oregon women's soccer team was picked to finish fourth in the GNAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll released Wednesday.
The Wolves finished behind Western Washington and Simon Fraser - who tied fo first in the poll - as well as Seattle Pacific. After WOU the poll went Central Washington, Northwest Nazarene, Montana State Billings and Saint Martin's.
The Wolves open their season 11 a.m. Thursday at University of Mary in their first match under new head coach
Nate Ulness.
WOU is coming off its first NCAA appearance in school history after going 11-5-5 overall and 8-2-4 in GNAC play (finishing third). The Wolves lost to GNAC-foe Simon Fraser in the NCAA opening round 3-2 in Pomona, Calif.
It will be a fresh look to the Wolves with the top nine players in minutes from a year ago are gone - seven of which graduated.
WOU does return top scorer from a year ago in
Olivia Boger who finished with seven goals and two assists on her way to being named GNAC Freshman of the Year last season.
Other returnees who saw significant time last season include
Kylie Jones (16 games, eight starts, one assist),
Lillian Mickel (14 games, seven starts),
Kyra DiBenedetto (17 games, four starts, one goal, one assist),
Maya Courtenay (19 games, one start, one goal, two assists),
Kaia Borje-Peeples (19 games, one goal) and
Kate Seibert (11 games, one start).
Overall there are 19 new players on this season's roster - including nine transfers.
After Thursday's opener, the Wolves travel to take on No. 12 Colorado School of Mines on Sunday. WOU plays their first home game Sept. 4 against Chico State.
