COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Mountain West Conference announced its 2002 pre-season women’s soccer poll today. The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team was picked to finish fifth in a vote by the league’s coaches.

The Lobos received 20 points, up six from last year, placing them above Air Force (14) and Wyoming (6). The Brigham Young Cougars are favored to win their fourth straight Mountain West Conference title and collected 36 points followed by Utah (28), UNLV (22) and San Diego State (21).

Slated to finish fifth the last three years in pre-season polls, the 2001 Lobos earned second place in the Mountain West Conference with a 3-2-1 record and were 4-12-2 overall. UNM was the only MWC team to defeat three-time conference champion BYU, earning a 1-0 victory in Provo, Utah.

Returning to the 2002 UNM roster are 17 letterwinners and 10 starters, including 2001 All-MWC performers Michelle Longmire, Nicole McCarty and Erchen Theys. Second-year head coach Kit Vela was also selected as the league’s coach of the year last season.

The Lobos play their annual alumni scrimmage at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24 at the UNM Soccer Complex. New Mexico kicks of its regular season Austin, Texas on Friday, Aug. 30 at 8 p.m. against the reigning Big 12 titleholder Texas Longhorns.

Preseason Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Poll |Pl. Team (1st Place Votes)|Points | |1. BYU (6)| 36 | |2. Utah (1) |28 | |3. UNLV |22 | |4. San Diego State|21| |5. New Mexico | 20 | |6. Air Force |14| |7. Wyoming |6| Y

Lobos Women's Soccer

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