USC Women's Soccer Picked Second in Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll

LOS ANGELES – The Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll was released this week and the USC women's soccer team was picked to finish second in the conference.
 
The Trojans, who have not finished outside the top three in the conference standings in the last six years, garnered 110 points in the poll, including three of the 12 first-place votes. UCLA was picked to win the league with 116 points and seven first-place votes, and Stanford was selected to finish third with 106 points and two first-place nods. Washington was picked fourth with 85 points.
 
The league's top four programs also appeared in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25 released last week. UCLA checked in at No. 5 nationally, USC at No. 14, Washington at No. 19 and Stanford at No. 24. Arizona State, Washington State and Colorado were also among those receiving votes in the national preseason rankings.
 
The Pac-12 is coming off a season in which it sent five teams to the NCAA Tournament (Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, Washington) for the 21st consecutive campaign and had four ranked in the final United Soccer Coaches Top 25 (No. 9 UCLA; No. 15 Washington; No. 18 USC; No. 25 Arizona State). A Pac-12 team has won three of the last five NCAA titles and five of the last 10 (Stanford - 2019, 2017, 2011; USC - 2016; UCLA - 2013).
 
The Trojans finished last year 7-3-4 overall and 6-3-2 in Pac-12 play, grabbing second in the conference standings. USC made its seventh straight postseason appearance, continuing a streak that started when head coach Keidane McAlpine arrived in 2014.
 
USC opens the regular season on Aug. 19 when they host Pepperdine for a non-conference matchup at McAlister Field. The Trojans will also host Cal State Fullerton for an exhibition match on Thursday (Aug. 12) of this week.