Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Picked Second in Preseason WAC Poll
8/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 14, 2007
FRESNO, Calif.-- - The Western Athletic Conference soccer coaches picked Fresno State to finish second in this years preseason poll. The Bulldogs, who won the 2006 WAC regular season championship, return eight seniors off last years 13-5-3 team.
Nevada, who is coming off its best season in program history, was picked to win the league with four of the eight first place votes. Fresno State and Utah State each earned the other two votes. Nevada earned 45 total points while the Bulldogs had 37.
In a tight race at the middle of the pack, Utah State was picked third with 34 points while San Jose State was picked fourth with 33 points and Hawai'i fifth with 32 points. Boise State was picked sixth, Idaho seventh and Louisiana Tech eighth.
The preseason All-WAC team was also announced with forward Nicole Gutierrez and midfielder Alison Sill being named to the team. Last year Gutierrez had four goals and one assist and earned Second Team All-WAC honors. Sill earned First-Team All-WAC honors while leading the Bulldogs with five assists.
San Jose State midfielder Nicole Irwin was named WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while defenders Lindsey Smart of Utah State and Jessica Wilcox of Nevada share the honors for WAC Preseason Defensive Co-Players of the Year.
Fresno State opens practice on Wednesday and plays its first exhibition game at Fresno Pacific on Saturday at 7 p.m. The game can be heard live on 790 AM. Fresno State begins play at Bulldog Stadium on August 25 when they play host to Cal Poly at 7 p.m. in an exhibition game.
The Bulldogs open regular season play on Friday, August 31, in Bulldog Stadium when they host UC Irvine.
Join the State - Fresno State! For information on soccer tickets for the 2007 season, click the tickets icon at the top of this page.
2007 WAC Coaches' Poll
1- Nevada (4) 45
2- Fresno State (2) 37
3- Utah State (2) 34
4- San Jose State 33
5- Hawai'i 32
6- Boise State 20
7- Idaho 14
8- Louisiana Tech 9
2007 Preseason All-WAC Team
Jessica Domingo, MF, Hawai'i, Jr.
Taryn Fukuroku, F, Hawai'i, Jr.
Nicole Gutierrez, F, Fresno State, Jr.
Nicole Irwin, MF, San Jose State, Sr.
Kori Lu, GK, Hawai'i, Jr.
Samantha Miller, F, Nevada, Jr.
Dana Peart, F, Utah State, Sr.
Alison Sill, MF, Fresno State, Jr.
Lindsey Smart, D, Nevada, Sr.
Koren Takeyama, D, Hawai'i, Sr. Jessica Wilcox, D, Nevada, Sr.
Preseason Players of the Year
Offensive Player of the Year: Nicole Irwin, San Jose State
Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Lindsey Smart, Utah State and Jessica Wilcox, Nevada.
