Women's Soccer Picked Ninth In WCC Preseason Poll

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - The Gonzaga University women's soccer team has been selected to finish ninth in the 2012 West Coast Conference season according to a preseason vote of the league's head coaches. The Bulldogs received 10 votes in this year's poll, after losing three starters off a team that went 7-10-2 overall and 0-6-2 in the conference a year ago.

Amy Edwards is in her fourth year at the helm of the Bulldogs and welcomes back 13 letterwinners, including eight starters, and adds eight newcomers and one returning redshirt in 2012. The squad is led by seniors Susan Brown, Emma Dolcetti, Morgan Manchester, Anna Lund and Alicia Berggren. Brown returns as the starting keeper for the Zags. In 2011, she, along with the steady defensive work of both Manchester and Lund, recorded seven shutouts. Brown also made 106 saves in 1,743 minutes between the posts. Dolcetti returns as the Bulldogs top goal scorer from a season ago; notching five while also assisting on two others.

Gonzaga opens the new season hosting the University of South Dakota, Friday, Aug. 17 at 4 p.m. The Bulldogs open league action at home in 2012; hosting Saint Mary's College, Sunday, Oct. 7 and the University of Portland, Thursday, Oct. 11.

Santa Clara University was selected the preseason favorite to win the 2012 West Coast Conference women's soccer title. The Broncos captured seven of eight possible first place votes, 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 (BYU) finished fourth 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), Loyola Marymount University (21 points), and the University of San Francisco (17 points).

Five of the nine WCC schools are represented on the preseason All-West Coast Conference team, led by Santa Clara's four selections. 

2012 WEST COAST CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL

2012 PRESEASON ALL-WEST COAST CONFERENCE TEAM