Aug. 9, 2012
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The San Diego State women's soccer team has been picked to finish second in the Mountain West, the league office announced on Thursday. The Aztecs received 44 points along with two first-place votes in the 2012 preseason poll as voted by the conference's head coaches.
New Mexico was projected to win the MW regular-season championship with 46 points, garnering five of eight first-place votes in the process. The other first-place vote went to Fresno State, which was tabbed for third with 35 points, followed by UNLV (31), Wyoming (28), and Boise State (18). Air Force and Nevada, meanwhile, rounded out the poll with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
The Aztecs, who are led by sixth-year head coach Mike Friesen, return 20 letterwinners and 10 starters off a 2011 squad that finished 10-7-3 overall and allowed just two goals in Mountain West play en route to a 4-1-1 record.
Six of SDSU's returning starters were 2011 all-MW performers, highlighted by redshirt senior Tiffany Hurst (defender/midfielder) and senior Megan Jurado (forward/midfielder), who both started all 20 games last season. Hurst tallied two goals and two assists in 2011, while Jurado scored both of her two goals against Hawai'i.
Other 2011 all-conference selections include a trio of juniors in Sophie Metz (midfielder/defender), Haley Palmer (defender) and Kory Spotts (defender/midfielder). Metz, who transferred to SDSU in 2010, started in 17 games and notched three goals and had two assists in her first season on Montezuma Mesa. Palmer, the 2010 MW Freshman of the Year, tallied four assists on the season, while Spotts started in all 20 contests and tallied an assist.
Sophomore goalkeeper Rachel Boaz was also an all-MW honoree in 2011 after a stellar year where she started all 20 games. The Murrieta, Calif., native made 49 saves and had a goals-against average of 0.91 en route to a record of 10-7-3.
The Aztecs are gearing up for this Friday's exhibition contest at No. 18 Long Beach State. Game time is set for 7 p.m. PT at George Allen Field. San Diego State's regular season opener, meanwhile, is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT on Friday, Aug. 17, vs. SMU at the SDSU Sports Deck.
2012 MW Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
Pl. Team (1st place votes) Points1. New Mexico (5) 462. San Diego State (2) 443. Fresno State (1) 354. UNLV 315. Wyoming 286. Boise State 187. Air Force 128. Nevada 10