UNM Picked Fifth in MW Preseason Coaches' Poll
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos were picked fifth in the Mountain West Preseason Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Poll released on Wednesday with 76 points.
While San Diego State was picked as the conference preseason favorite with eight first-place votes, Utah State (107 points, two first-place votes) and Colorado State (two first-place votes) and Boise State, both with 99 points, were picked ahead of UNM.
Behind the Lobos was a large gap with Nevada (56 points) and Fresno State and UNLV each with 55 points, and from there was further separation with Air Force (37 points), San José State (34 points), Wyoming (32 points) and Colorado College rounding out the preseason picks with 25 points.
Of note, New Mexico plays all but one team ahead of them in the poll on the road this season with the lone exception the final conference match against San Diego State.
In addition, Natalie DeGagne, Sophia Roberts and Alli Davis were picked for the 2024 Mountain West Women’s Soccer Watch List comprised of three players from each school that is expected to lead their respective programs.
Davis returns for her third season starting in the net, after starting all 36 matches in the last two seasons and made a career-best 75 saves last season. In addition, Roberts (team-high four goals) and DeGagne (three goals tied for second) were two of UNM’s top-three goal scorers from a season ago with DeGagne and Roberts tied for the team lead in points in 2023 at nine.
Beyond the three named to the watch list, the Lobos return consistent starters in Margaux Clarke, Fiona Jenkins, Kennedy Brown and Mercedes Morris, with each starting over half of the matches last season.
2024 MW PRESEASON WOMEN’S SOCCER COACHES’ POLL
Place/ Team (First-place votes)/ Points
1. San Diego State (8) | 117 |
2. Utah State (2) | 107 |
3. Colorado State (2) | 99 |
3. Boise State | 99 |
5. New Mexico | 76 |
6. Nevada | 56 |
7. Fresno State | 55 |
7. UNLV | 55 |
9. Air Force | 37 |
10. San José State | 34 |
11. Wyoming | 32 |
12. Colorado College | 25 |
2024 MW WOMEN’S SOCCER WATCH LIST
Chase Borntreger, So., MF, Air Force
Hannah Johnson, Sr., D, Air Force
Caeli Sherman, Jr., F, Air Force
Genevieve Crenshaw, Sr., GK, Boise State
Carly Cross, Sr., F, Boise State
Morgan Padour, Sr., MF, Boise State
Kaelin Enga, Jr., MF, Colorado College
Makenna Kolson, So., MF/D, Colorado College
Alexis Wessler, Sr., MF/D, Colorado College
Mia Casey, So., MF, Colorado State
Liv Stutzman, Sr., MF, Colorado State
Avery Vander Ven, Sr., MF, Colorado State
Julia Hardwick, Sr., D, Fresno State
Jordan Lau, Sr., D, Fresno State
Kaelyn Miller, Sr., F, Fresno State
Cassidy Bell, Sr., MF, Nevada
Lauren Muff, Gr., D, Nevada
Emily Rich, Sr., F, Nevada
Alli Davis, Jr., GK, New Mexico
Natalie DeGagne, Sr., MF, New Mexico
Sophia Roberts, Sr., F, New Mexico
Denise Castro, Sr., MF, San Diego State
Emma Gaines-Ramos, Sr., F, San Diego State
Grace Goins, Jr., D, San Diego State
Tatiana Cunningham, Jr., MF, San José State
Bella Flocchini, Sr., F, San José State
Kennedy Mayo, Sr., F, San José State
Trinity Buchanan, So., MF, UNLV
Mallie Ramirez, Jr., MF/F, UNLV
Cassie Villanueva, So, F, UNLV
Kaylie Chambers, Jr., MF, Utah State
Summer Diamond, So., MF, Utah State
Addy Weichers, Sr., D, Utah State
Alyssa Bedard, Gr., F, Wyoming
Alyssa Glover, Jr., MF, Wyoming
Raegan Richardson, So., MF, Wyoming
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