Belton (August 22, 2012) -- The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's soccer team is picked to finish eighth in the American Southwest Conference in the league's annual preseason poll, released today. The Cru women totaled 160 points in balloting of the league's coaches and sports information directors.
Defending ASC champion Hardin-Simmons is picked to repeat as ASC champs with 25 first-place votes and 337 total points. Texas-Dallas is picked second with 306 total points and one first-place vote, while Texas-Tyler’s 270 total points earn it the pick to finish third. Concordia Texas is picked fourth with 253 total points and Howard Payne rounds out the top five with 238 points. Mississippi College is picked to finish sixth with 207 points and East Texas Baptist is picked one spot ahead of UMHB with 190 points. Texas Lutheran (119), LeTourneau (90) and Louisiana College (79) took spots 9-11 in the poll. Ozarks and Schreiner were picked 12th and 13th with 62 points and 55 points, respectively.
Hardin-Simmons swept the Preseason Player of the Year awards with senior midfielder/forward Katie Kuykendall repeating as Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and junior defender Courtney Cramer taking Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
The UMHB women return 17 letter winners and seven starters from a team that finished 5-12-1 overall 5-8-0 in ASC play last season. The Cru will open the 2012 season with a 4:00 p.m. match against Trinity University in Abilene, Texas on Aug. 31st.
