Aug. 13, 2014 LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV was selected to finish in seventh place in the 2014 Mountain West women's soccer preseason poll released on Wednesday afternoon by the league office.
UNLV received a total of 55 votes in this year's poll to place seventh in the 12-team poll, after finishing in sixth place out of 11 teams in 2013. The Rebels, who are under first-year head coach Chris Shaw, lost a pair of seniors that started all 21 games. However, the team will return seven starters as well as an impressive 16 total players that started at least two games in 2013.
"That's fine if they want to think we are the seventh best team," said Shaw. "I would like to think we will finish higher then that, and if that's the expectation of our team this year, then I feel we will surprise alot of people this season."
San Diego State narrowly beat out new affiliate member Colorado College by three votes to finish atop the poll with 115 points. The Tigers were picked second with 112 votes, and both teams each received five first place votes. The last two first place votes went to Boise State, picked third with 103 points. New Mexico was fourth (88), Utah State fifth (82) and Fresno State sixth (73). Rounding out the poll was Wyoming in eighth (51), Nevada, Reno in ninth (37), Colorado State and San Jose State tied for 10th with 37 points, and Air Force was picked 12th (22). UNLV opens the 2014 campaign on Friday, Aug. 22 against Northern Arizona at 7 pm, on the first day of the UNLV Rebel Classic.
The Rebels will play an exhibition game this Friday, Aug. 15, at 7 pm against Evansville at Peter Johann Memorial Field, and admission to the exhibition is free to all. Fans of both the men's and women's soccer programs will experience a few changes at Peter Johann Memorial Field for the 2014 season. First, the university has been working this summer to increase parking, and when the current project is done there is expected to be an additional 125 parking spaces available for Rebel soccer fans at Johann Field. The project, however, is not scheduled to be completed until at least early September, so for the beginning portion of the season, the parking lot at the Stan Fulton Building and a portion of the soccer parking lot will be closed due to the construction. Fans should expect to park at the baseball parking lots and walk over until construction is completed.
Two more additions to the fan experience at UNLV soccer this season include a 90-foot shade structure covering the north bleachers. The fences surrounding Alumni Park have been removed, making a more open fan friendly facility.
2014 Mountain West Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll
Place Team (1st place votes) Votes1. San Diego State (5) 1152. Colorado College (5) 1123. Boise State (2) 1034. New Mexico 885. Utah State 826. Fresno State 737. UNLV 558. Wyoming 519. Nevada, Reno 3710. Colorado State 27 San José State 2712. Air Force 22
