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Women's soccer coaches pick UCLA as 2014 preseason favorite

Aug 12, 2014

SAN FRANCISCO - UCLA was voted by the league’s coaches to win the Pac-12 women’s soccer crown in 2014, the Conference office announced today. The league coaches picked STANFORD to finish second behind the Bruins, followed by CALIFORNIA at third. It marks the second-straight year that the Bruins, Cardinal and Golden Bears have finished in that order in the preseason polling.

The Bruins come off of an historic season, winning the NCAA Championship for the first time in program history and ninth Pac-12 title all-time. With four players named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list and led by 2013 NSCAA Coach of the Year Amanda Cromwell, UCLA was also voted first in the nation in the NSCAA preseason poll and looks to defend its NCAA and Pac-12 titles. 

The Cardinal, ranked sixth in the NSCAA preseason poll, brings back nine starters from last year’s team after finishing 15-6-1 and advancing to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in last year’s Women’s College Cup. The Cardinal also brings in the top-ranked recruiting class in the country according to TopDrawerSoccer.com, and looks to reclaim the Pac-12 Championship after having won four-straight titles from 2009 to 2012. 

California advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th-consecutive time last season, and looks to extend its streak after bringing in the fifth-ranked recruiting class in the nation according to TopDrawerSoccer.com. The Golden Bears finished 2014 with an 11-5-5 record and a first-round loss in the postseason tourney. 

USC weighed in at fourth in the polling, while COLORADO was slated at fifth overall, with WASHINGTON STATE at sixth and UTAH at seventh. ARIZONA STATE and WASHINGTON tied at eighth, with ARIZONA at 10th, while OREGON and OREGON STATE rounded out the poll at 11th and 12th, respectively. 

The 2014 Pac-12 women’s soccer season is set to kick off Aug. 22 with all 12 teams in action. This year, the league will receive unprecedented coverage with 69 games set to be televised live on the Pac-12 Networks, including 27 non-conference games to begin the year. For more information, including a composite schedule, visit www.pac-12.com.

2014 Pac-12 Women's Soccer Coaches Poll

Place School Points
1. UCLA (11) 121
2. Stanford (1) 110
3. California 91
4. USC 83
5. Colorado 78
6. Washington State 69
7. Utah 67
T8. Arizona State 51
T8. Washington 51
10. Arizona 33
11. Oregon 22
12. Oregon State 16

Parentheses indicate first-place votes.