DENVER – Defending champion Grand Canyon was predicted to repeat as the Western Athletic Conference’s (WAC) top team in the 2022 WAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll that was released on Thursday.
The Lopes received eight first-place votes and 117 voting points to enter the season as the conference favorite based on polling of all 12 women’s soccer member head coaches. Last year’s league runner-up Utah Valley received the remaining four first-place votes and placed second in the 2022 predicted order of finish with 110 points.
Grand Canyon junior forward Gianna Gourley was selected as the 2022 WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Gourley is the leading returning scorer in the conference after logging 10 goals and 24 total points across 22 matches (13 starts) for the Lopes in 2021.
Utah Valley redshirt junior defender Jenna Shepherd was chosen as the 2022 WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Shepherd has been a first-team all-conference choice in each of the past two seasons with the Wolverines and was the 2020 WAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Grand Canyon led the way with five selections on the 2022 Preseason All-WAC Team. Utah Valley was just off the pace with four players named to the preseason all-conference squad. California Baptist, New Mexico State, Seattle U and Stephen F. Austin were also represented.
2022 WAC WOMEN’S SOCCER PRESEASON HONORS
2022 WAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll
|
Rank
|
Team (1st-Place Votes)
|
Points
|
|
1.
|
Grand Canyon (8)
|
117
|
|
2.
|
Utah Valley (4)
|
110
|
|
3.
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
90
|
|
4.
|
California Baptist
|
84
|
|
5.
|
NM State
|
74
|
|
6.
|
Seattle U
|
72
|
|
7.
|
Abilene Christian
|
62
|
|
8.
|
Utah Tech
|
46
|
|
9.
|
Sam Houston
|
42
|
|
10.
|
UTRGV
|
39
|
|
11.
|
Southern Utah
|
25
|
|
12.
|
Tarleton
|
21
|
2022 WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Gianna Gourley, Grand Canyon
2022 WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Jenna Shepherd, Utah Valley
2022 Preseason All-WAC Team
Julianna Carter, Sr., F, Utah Valley
Colleen Feagins, Sr., F, Stephen F. Austin
Gianna Gourley, Jr., F, Grand Canyon
Lindsey Prokop, Jr., F, Grand Canyon
Brenna Alderson, So., MF, Grand Canyon
Emily Bunnell, Grad, MF, Seattle U
Xitlaly Hernandez, Sr., MF, NM State
Heather Stainbrook, Jr., MF, Utah Valley
Sydney Bushman, Jr., D, Utah Valley
Erin Gallagher, Sr., D, California Baptist
Reese Mendenhall, So., D, Grand Canyon
Jenna Shepherd, R-Jr., D, Utah Valley
Jordan Ferguson, So., GK, Grand Canyon
- WAC -