Lady Blues picked eighth in MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll

July 31, 2002

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association women's soccer coaches have selected four-time champion Truman State University as the favorite to defend their conference title in 2003.

The Bulldogs are the only team to win the MIAA championship, as the sport enters its fifth year of conference sponsorship. Truman claimed three of a possible seven first-place votes (coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team), for 45 points. The Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA Division II postseason in 2002 for the second time in as many years.

The Central Missouri State Jennies, with former Missouri Southern coach Geoff VanDeusen taking over this season, were next in the poll with 43 points and three first-place votes. The Lady Bearcats of Southwest Baptist collected the two remaining first-place votes and finished with 40 points in third.

The Emporia State Lady Hornets are fourth in the poll, followed by two schools with new head coaches on the sidelines. Trevor Wachsman takes over for VanDeusen at Southern, while Tracy Cross is the new bench boss at Northwest Missouri State -- with both schools ranked fifth in the coaches voting.

Missouri-Rolla was seventh in the poll, followed by the first-year program at Washburn. The Lady Blues, led by former Topeka-area high school coach Tim Collins, will open the home conference schedules for six of the other seven MIAA teams this season.

The regular season kicks off Sept. 30.

2003 MIAA Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
         School                          Pts.
         1. Truman (3)................... 45
         2. Central Missouri State (3)... 43
         3. Southwest Baptist (2)........ 40
         4. Emporia State................ 30
         5. Missouri Southern............ 21
            Northwest Missouri State..... 21
         7. Missouri-Rolla............... 15
         8. Washburn.................. 9
         Points awarded on a 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. 
         Coaches could not vote for their own school.