Cougars chosen atop WCC

SAN BRUNO, Calif. – BYU women's soccer was selected first in the West Coast Conference preseason coaches poll, while two Cougars made the All-WCC Preseason team. BYU received three first place votes and a total of 73 points to top the conference.

Portland and Santa Clara also received three first place votes, while San Diego received one. The Pilots were picked second with 72 points, while Santa Clara was picked third with 69 points. Pepperdine was fourth, followed by San Diego.

Sophomore forward Ashley Hatch and junior defender Paige Hunt, who is currently serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Indiana, were put on the All-WCC Preseason team by the conference's 10 head coaches.

Hatch was an All-WCC Honorable Mention and on the All-WCC Freshman Team last season as she scored six goals and made seven assists. Hunt was named to the All-WCC Second Team last season as she scored two goals and made two assists from her center back position before leaving on a mission. She will return to play for the Cougars in the 2015 season. 

Last season, BYU split the conference title with Santa Clara and Portland as all three teams went 8-1-0 in WCC play and all three advanced out of the first round of the NCAA tournament.

BYU was also voted No. 22 in the nation in the preseason NSCAA poll, while Santa Clara was voted No. 10 and Portland No. 11.

2014 WCC Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches Poll

2014 All-WCC Preseason Women's Soccer Team