Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Soccer Picked to Win Big 12
August 12, 2011 | Cowgirl Soccer
Aug. 12, 2011
IRVING, Texas – For the first time, the Oklahoma State women's soccer team has been tabbed as the No. 1 team in the conference in the Big 12 preseason soccer poll, as voted on by the conference coaches.
The announcement comes just a day after the Cowgirls led the league with four players selected to the 2011 Preseason All-Big 12 Soccer Team.
“Being picked first in the conference by the coaches is a great compliment to our team,” head coach Colin Carmichael said. “The competition this year should be as fierce as ever, and we are looking forward to the season ahead.”
OSU received six first-place votes in the poll, twice as much as second-place Texas A&M who grabbed three., while the Cowgirls' point total of 62 was three in front of the Aggies' 59.
The Cowgirls begin the year as the 14th-ranked team in the preseason NSCAA/Continental Tire national rankings.
Oklahoma State is coming off the best season in program history as the Cowgirls went 20-4-2 in 2010 and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship before falling to eventual national champion Notre Dame. They also won a third-straight conference championship by claiming the Big 12 tourney title.
In 2011, the Cowgirls return 10 starters, including six All-Big 12 Conference performers. All-Americans Melinda Mercado and AD Franch return to anchor one of the nation's top defenses, while OSU also returns five of its top six goal scorers from a year ago, led by senior Krista Lopez and her 19 career goals.
OSU travels to Dallas Saturday for a preseason exhibition match against SMU before opening the regular season with a non-conference showdown against TCU in Stillwater on Aug. 19, 2011
BIG 12 SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
(First place votes in parentheses; Coaches not allowed to vote for own team)
1. Oklahoma State (6) 62
2. Texas A&M (3) 59
3. Missouri 44
4. Texas 43
5. Texas Tech 36
6. Oklahoma 33
T7. Baylor 16
T7. Kansas 16
9. Iowa State 15
