BYU ranked 16th in first coaches poll

PROVO, Utah – BYU begins the season ranked 16th in the first National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll, which was released on Tuesday.

The Cougars finished the 2015 regular season ranked 13th. They return 18 of their 21 players who appeared in games last season, including their top three goal scorers in Nadia Gomes, Elena Medeiros and Ashley Hatch as well as the 2015 WCC top goalkeeper, Rachel Boaz.

Four BYU opponents are ranked in the top 25. The Cougars will square off against No. 2 Penn State (Aug. 26), No. 23 Ohio State (Sept. 12), No. 21 Santa Clara (Sept. 29) and No. 25 Loyola Marymount (Oct. 6).

Three other opposing teams—UCLA (exhibition, Aug. 13), Washington State (Aug. 19) and Pepperdine (Oct. 8)—received votes.

BYU begins play on Saturday in the Blue/White game on South Field at 7 p.m. MDT. Admission is free.

For full NSCAA rankings, visit NCAA.com.