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| Lady Blues picked fourth in MIAA Soccer coaches poll OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association women's soccer coaches have selected seven-time champion Truman State University as the favorite to defend their title in 2006. The Bulldogs are the only team to win the MIAA championship, as the sport enters its eighth year of conference sponsorship. Truman claimed five of a possible seven first-place votes (coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team), for 47 points. Each of the three teams which tied for second in last season's race for the MIAA title (the closest ever) picked up a first-place vote -- two of them actually tied for second in the poll. Central Missouri State and Missouri Southern each received 39 points in the survey, while Washburn was fourth with 35 points. The MSSU Lions return the conference's Most Valuable Player (junior GK Kaney Tyler) and Freshman of the Year (sophomore M Nikki Lewellyn). Lewellyn (14 goals), WU sophomore F Jessica Mainz (13 goals) and CMSU sophomore F Hazel Cox (12 goals) -- the MIAA's top three goal scorers last season -- are scheduled to be back in 2006. The two Bearcat squads, Northwest Missouri State and Southwest Baptist, tied for fifth in the poll with 21 points each. Two schools will have new coaches in 2006. Jim Schneiderhahn, onetime head coach at Benedictine (Kan.), takes over for Ross Fogel at Emporia State -- the Lady Hornets were seventh in the poll with 14 points. Jeff Hansen, formerly an assistant at Central Missouri State, is the second head coach in as many seasons for Missouri Western. The Griffons finished eighth in the coaches poll. Missouri Western and Washburn each will be playing home games on newly-installed artificial surfaces, as the Griffons move into Spratt Memorial Stadium and the Lady Blues are slated to play all but one home game in Yager Stadium at Moore Bowl. 2006 MIAA Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll School Pts.
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