DENVER — The Utah Valley University women's soccer team was selected to finish fourth in the 2015 Western Athletic Conference Preseason Poll, while senior goalkeeper Jessica Duffin was tabbed the WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The conference preseason poll and preseason awards were determined by the league's head coaches and announced on Wednesday by the league.
After tying for third in the conference standings last season with a 7-3 league record, UVU was projected to finish fourth this year with 35 points. The Seattle U. Redhawks were picked to three-peat after tying for first last season with an 8-1-1 record and going undefeated in conference play in 2013 at 12-0. SU received six first-place votes for a total of 47 points. Grand Canyon was second in the poll with 39 points, while Missouri-Kansas City was third with 38.
CSU Bakersfield was tabbed fifth with 23 points, while NM State and UTRGV tied for sixth with 17 points, and Chicago State was selected eighth with eight points.
Duffin was selected as the league's preseason defensive player of the year after helping lead the Wolverines to nine shutouts and limiting opponents to just 19 goals in 22 matches in 2014. She also stopped 81 shots and played every minute in goal for UVU last season en route to leading the team to a school-record 13 victories.
Duffin was not only tabbed as the preseason defensive player of the year but also to the Preseason All-WAC Team along with senior midfielder Kasandra Anderson. Anderson made the cut after being named Second Team All-WAC in 2014. The Utah Valley senior midfielder scored three goals and added three assists while finishing second on the team in points with 10 in her first year in a UVU uniform last season.
In all, seven WAC schools were represented on the Preseason All-WAC Team, led by GCU with three preseason all-conference selections. SU and UVU each had two honorees, while CSUB, UMKC, NM State and UTRGV each had one representative.
The league also named a named its preseason offensive player of the year and GCU junior forward Maria Monterroso earned those honors. Monterosso, who was a first team all-WAC honoree last season, led the Lopes with eight goals and 17 points, while also registering an assist and 65 shots in 2014. Monterosso missed time during the season due to commitments to the Guatemalan national team, scoring the lone goal for the side during its World Cup-qualifying campaign.
The 2015 season begins for the Wolverines on Aug. 21 at San Diego State. Prior to the regular season opener, UVU will first take part in a pair of exhibitions this weekend. The Wolverines will open their exhibition slate against in-state foe Weber State on Friday at noon in Ogden before coming home to host the annual Green & White Match on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Clyde Field.
Preseason Coaches' Poll Place, Team, Pts.
1. Seattle U, 47
2. Grand Canyon, 39
3. Missouri-Kansas City, 38
4. Utah Valley, 35
5. CSU Bakersfield, 23
6t. NM State, 17
6t. UTRGV, 17
8. Chicago State, 8
Preseason All-WAC Team
Milla Benedetti, So., F, Grand Canyon Maria Monterroso, Jr., F, Grand Canyon Andreya Barrera, So., F, UTRGV Kasandra Anderson, Sr., MF, Utah Valley Natasha Howe, Jr., MF, Seattle U Holly Abdelkader, So., MF, NM State Kiana Kraft, Sr., D, Seattle U Erika Teson, Sr., D, Missouri-Kansas City Maja Green, So., D, CSU Bakersfield Jessica Duffin, Sr., GK, Utah Valley Blakely Fraasch, So., GK, Grand Canyon Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Maria Monterroso, Jr., F, Grand Canyon
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Jessica Duffin, Sr., GK, Utah Valley
James Warnick is an assistant sports information director at Utah Valley University. For more information about Wolverine athletics, visit WolverineGreen.com.