Aug. 12, 2008

LAS VEGAS - UNLV, four-time defending conference champions, was picked to finish second in the 2006 Mountain West Conference women's soccer preseason poll released Wednesday morning, while BYU was the favorite to win the 2008 title.

The second place in the preseason poll marks the highest UNLV has ever been predicted to finish. In the previous four preseason polls, the Rebels were selected to finish fourth three times and third last year. Each time UNLV would prove the preseason pundits wrong, despite going on to win the title all three years.

BYU, the 2007 Tournament champion, received seven first place votes for a total of 49 points, while UNLV received the other first place vote to come in second with 39 points. Utah and San Diego State were tied for third with 36 points, with TCU coming in fifth with 24, New Mexico sixth (17), Wyoming seventh (16), and Air Force rounding out the poll in eighth with seven points.

The Rebels, mentored by 2007 MWC Coach of the Year Katherine Mertz, return six starters and 16 players overall from last year's squad that finished 11-5-5 and won the regular season title with a 5-1-1 mark. First-team All-MWC senior defender Brie Kuhne highlights the returnees for the Rebels, while junior goalkeeper Alicia Lugo comes back as the starter for the second straight year.

UNLV opens its season on Friday, Aug. 30 against Nevada, Reno as it hosts the UNLV Nike Classic in Las Vegas, and will begin defense of its Mountain West Conference championship at San Diego State on Oct. 3.

2008 Mountain West Conference Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll
             Place   Team (1st place votes)  Votes                1.  BYU (7)         49                2.  UNLV    (1)     39                3.  San Diego State     36                    Utah            36                5.  TCU         24                6.  New Mexico      17                7.  Wyoming         16                8.  Air Force       7