UNM Soccer Picked Third in MW Preseason Poll

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The University of New Mexico soccer team was picked to finish third in the MW Preseason Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Poll as announced on Wednesday.

New Mexico received one first place vote and 97 points, with the narrowest of margins separating 1-3 in the poll. San Diego State received one point more than the Lobos with four first-place votes for 98 points and Wyoming was tabbed the preseason favorite with 100 points behind four first-place votes. San José State was fourth in the predicted order of finish with 92 points and received three first-place votes.

It marked the fifth consecutive year that the Lobos were picked by the conference coaches to finish in the top three of the conference standings and the sixth time in head coach Heather Dyche’s tenure at UNM with Dyche entering her ninth season at the helm. The Lobos were also picked third in the spring 2021 season, also receiving one first-place vote and 97 points, ultimately going on to finish 10-1-0 en route to a conference regular season championship.

UNM enters the season following a 7-3-9 record overall and a 5-1-5 conference campaign in 2022, in which the Lobos claimed their third consecutive Mountain West regular-season championship. In the previous eight seasons under Dyche, the Lobos have gone 54-22-12 against MW opponents and have won four MW titles.

The Lobos start conference play on Sept. 21 at San José State.

2023 MW PRESEASON WOMEN’S SOCCER COACHES’ POLL

1. Wyoming (4) 100
2. San Diego State (4) 98
3. New Mexico (1) 97
4. San José State (3) 92
5. Utah State 91
6. Boise State 86
7. Colorado State 53
8. Colorado College 50
9. UNLV 35
10. Air Force 33
11. Fresno State 31
12. Nevada 26