Lobo women’s soccer tabbed third in MW Preseason Poll

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Mountain West released its annual preseason coaches poll on Tuesday afternoon, and The University of the New Mexico women’s soccer team has been tabbed third by the league’s head coaches.
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Despite being predicted to finish third in the league, the Lobos totaled 104 points and received three first-place votes. Their 104 points in the coaches poll were only one point from second place San José State (105) and five points from Boise State (109) and the top spot on the preseason list.
 
Last season, the Lobos claimed a share of the Mountain West Regular Season Championship with Boise State and Wyoming after going 7-2-2 in league play. The Lobos also advanced to the MW Tournament Title game for the second-straight year, but fell to San José State, 1-0.
 
This season, fifth-year head coach Heather Dyche returns 18 letter-winners from a year ago, and with it a majority of their high-powered offense as well. After leading the league and setting a program single-season record of goals with 45, Coach Dyche and the Lobos return 82% of that production with seven players coming back that scored at least three goals in 2018.
 
Headlining that list are the top-two goal scorers for the Lobos from a year ago in Alesia Garcia and Gwen Maly. Each found the back of the net seven times en route to All-MW honors as Maly was on the first team and Garcia on the second team and All-Newcomer Team in her true freshman season.
 
The Lobos will also have the return services of two-time All-MW first teamer Jessie Hix, who is slated to embark on her senior campaign. Last year, Hix missed some time due to injury, but still totaled 11 points with four goals and three assists.
 
While a majority of the offensive production returns, the Lobos return 100% of the minutes in goal as netminders Emily Johnson and Malia Vanisi are back after splitting time at keeper last season. Johnson saw the most time in net for the Lobos as she started 19 of the 21 games and logged over 1,500 minutes. In her junior season, Johnson notched 73 saves and tallied one solo shutout. Vanisi appeared in nine games and made a pair of starts. Logging just over 370 minutes in goal, Vanisi allowed just two goals and posted a 4-0-0 record. Combined the duo notched four clean sheets for the Lobos.
 
The Lobos will begin their season this coming Saturday afternoon with the first of two preseason exhibition games. That first tune-up contest will be against NCAA Division II power Colorado School of Mines and will have a kickoff of Noon out at the UNM Soccer Complex.