Aug. 7, 2012

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - The University of San Diego women's soccer team, and Co-Defending West Coast Conference champions, were picked to finish third in a preseason coaches's poll. Santa Clara University has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2012 WCC women's soccer title. In a preseason poll of the WCC's nine head coaches, the Broncos captured seven of eight possible first placevotes, and 63 overall points in the poll. Competition will be tough for Santa Clara, as the West Coast Conference placed four teams in last year's NCAA Tournament.

2011 West Coast Conference co-champions Pepperdine University and the University of San Diego were picked to finish second and third, respectively, in this year's poll. The Waves earned 52 points and a first place vote, while the Toreros tallied 48 points in the poll. Following its debut WCC campaign, Brigham Young University finished fourth in the 2012 preseason poll with 45 points. The University of Portland, a 2011 NCAA participant, earned 42 points along with a first place vote to finish fifth. The Pilots were followed by Saint Mary's College (26 points) and Loyola Marymount University (21 points), with the University of San Francisco (17 points) and Gonzaga University (10 points) rounding out the survey.

Five of the nine WCC schools are represented on the preseason All-West Coast Conference team, led by Santa Clara's four selections. The 2012 season begins on Friday, August 17, with seven West Coast Conference teams in action.

USD is represented by sophomore striker Mariah Butera, who is coming off an impressive freshman campaign in which she scored five goals, and added in a pair of assists for 12 points. Butera was a All-WCC Freshman team selection last season.

2012 WEST COAST CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLLTeam (First Place Votes) - Points1.  Santa Clara (7) - 632.  Pepperdine (1) - 523.  San Diego - 484.  BYU - 455.  Portland (1) - 426.  Saint Mary's - 267.  Loyola Marymount - 218.  San Francisco - 179.  Gonzaga - 10
2012 PRESEASON ALL-WEST COAST CONFERENCE TEAMPlayer, School, Yr., Pos.Roxanne Barker, Pepperdine, Sr., GKMariah Butera, San Diego, So., M/DMicaela Capelle, Portland, Jr., FLindsi Lisonbee Cutshall, BYU, Sr., DCarlee Payne Holmoe, BYU, Sr., FSofia Huerta, Santa Clara, So., FJulie Johnston, Santa Clara, Jr., MMichelle Pao, Pepperdine, Jr., D/MEllie Rice, Santa Clara, Jr., M/FMeleana Shim, Santa Clara, Sr., MLynn Williams, Pepperdine, So., F