Aug. 9, 2017 @unlvwsoccer | 2017 Schedule | Tickets
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV women's soccer earned its highest spot since 2013 in the Mountain West preseason coaches poll, announced by the conference office Wednesday. The Rebels were picked third after earning 101 total points, including five first-place votes - the most of any team in the league. The third-place ranking is also UNLV's highest in four years under head coach Chris Shaw.
The reigning Mountain West champions are coming off one of their best seasons in program history after winning both the regular season and tournament titles in the same season for the first time while making the program's first NCAA appearance since 2006. The 2016 squad also broke several single-season records, including wins (16), goals (51) and assists (50). The Scarlet & Gray swept the Mountain West regular season awards, with former Rebel
Lily Sender earning Offensive Player of the Year honors, senior
Chidera Akubuilo being named the Defensive Player of the Year and Shaw getting tabbed the league's Coach of the Year. The Rebels graduated 11 seniors from last year's championship squad, but have six starters returning - including Akubuilo - to lead the way in 2017.
San Diego State, whose four-year title streak was cut short last year by UNLV, was picked as the favorite to capture the title in 2017, receiving three first-place votes and 110 total points. San Jose State also received three first-place votes for a total of 108 points to take second, coming in seven points ahead of the Rebels. With 97 points and the final first-place vote, Utah State earned the fourth-place spot, followed by Wyoming and Fresno State with 70 and 66 points, respectively. Boise State garnered 64 points to place seventh, while New Mexico collected 61 points to place eighth. Rounding out the 12-team poll was Colorado College in ninth (43), Air Force in 10th (37), Colorado State in 11th (20) and Nevada, Reno in 12th (15).
The Rebels open the 2017 season on Friday, August 18 at 7 p.m. against Drake at Peter Johann Memorial Field as part of the annual UNLV Invitational.
Tickets are on sale now for the 2017 season. Season tickets are just $35 for adults, $25 for UNLV faculty/staff and seniors. Single game ticket prices this season are $8 for adults, $6 for faculty/staff and seniors, though a special internet price of $5 is available for all tickets bought online at UNLVTickets.com, good up to three hours before game time. Kids 12 and under are always free at UNLV women's soccer contests.
2017 MW PRESEASON WOMEN'S SOCCER COACHES' POLL
Pl. Team (1st place votes) Points
1. San Diego State (3) - 110
2. San José State (3) - 108
3. UNLV (5) - 101
4. Utah State (1) - 97
5. Wyoming - 70
6. Fresno State - 66
7. Boise State - 64
8. New Mexico - 61
9. Colorado College - 43
10. Air Force - 37
11. Colorado State - 20
12. Nevada, Reno - 15
-UNLV-
