PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Memphis, having finished the 2016 season 14-5-1 overall and 8-1-0 in conference play, was voted as the favorite in the 2017 American Athletic Conference preseason coaches’ poll. The Tigers earned 74 points and received five first-place votes from the leagues 10 head coaches.
Memphis returned to the NCAA tournament last season for the first time since making five-straight appearances from 2007-11. The at-large selection was the first in program history. During a seven match winning streak last season, the Tigers outscored opponents 23-3 with four shutouts. This season Memphis return four of their top five scorers including Jessica Lisi (21 pts), Marie Levasseur (16 pts), Elizabeth Woerner (15 pts), and Serena Dolan (13 pts). Coach Brooks Monaghan enters his 17th year at the helm of the program.
SMU finished second in the poll with 65 points and three first-place votes. The Mustangs finished 13-7-2 overall, 6-2-1 in conference play, and earned their first NCAA tournament berth since joining the American Athletic Conference in 2013.
The coaches voted Cincinnati third with 60 points and one first-place vote. USF followed in fourth place with 57 points and one first-place vote, while UConn was picked fifth with 56 points. The Huskies are also ranked among the top 25 schools in the nation, sitting at No. 14 in the 2017 United Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll. UCF tallied 53 points to finish sixth, followed by Tulsa (53) in seventh. East Carolina and Houston tied for eighth with 18 points each, while Temple had 15 points to round out the poll.
USF sophomore Evelyne Viens was chosen as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Viens was named the American Rookie of the Year in 2016. She collected five total weekly awards throughout the 2016 season including three Rookie weekly honors (Aug. 29, Sept. 26, and Oct. 24) and two Offensive weekly awards (Aug. 29 and Sept. 12).
Cincinnati senior Vanessa Gilles was tabbed Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. This is the second straight year she has been selected for this recognition. Gilles received four Defensive weekly awards last season (Sept. 12, Oct. 3, Oct. 17, and Oct. 24) and gained valuable experience ahead of her final campaign from participation in the 2017 Women’s League1 Ontario All-Star Match (July 25).
UCF junior Vera Varis was nominated as the Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. In 2016, Varis started in all 19 matches totaling 1774 minutes between the goal, averaged 1.42 in goals allowed, and recorded five individual shutouts - three of which occurred during conference play.
Thirteen student-athletes were selected to the 2017 Preseason All-Conference Team including Varis and Saga Fredricksson from UCF; Julie Gavorski and Gilles from Cincinnati; Olivia Gauthier, Levasseur and Lisi from Memphis; Andrea Haukadottir and Viens from USF; Claire Oates, Allie Thornton and Vanessa Valadez from SMU, and Tana Dake and Rachel Thun from Tulsa. Gilles, Levasseur and Veins were unanimous selections.
The 2017 women’s soccer season begins Friday, Aug. 18 with conference beginning Thursday, Sept. 21.
Preseason Coaches’ Poll
| Place |
School |
Points (1st Place Votes) |
| 1. |
Memphis |
74 (5) |
| 2. |
SMU |
65 (3) |
| 3. |
Cincinnati |
60 (1) |
| 4. |
USF |
57 (1) |
| 5. |
UConn |
56 |
| 6. |
UCF |
53 |
| 7. |
Tulsa |
34 |
| T8. |
East Carolina |
18 |
| T8. |
Houston |
18 |
| 10. |
Temple |
15 |
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Evelyne Viens, USF, So., F
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Vanessa Gilles, Cincinnati, Sr., D
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Vera Varis, UCF, Jr., GK
Preseason All-Conference Team
Vera Varis, UCF, Jr., GK
Saga Fredricksson, UCF, Sr., D
Julie Gavorski, Cincinnati, Sr., F
Vanessa Gilles, Cincinnati, Sr., D*
Olivia Gauthier, Memphis, Jr., D
Marie Levasseur, Memphis, Jr., F*
Jessica Lisi, Memphis, So., M/F
Andrea Haukadottir, USF, So., M
Evelyne Viens, USF, So., F*
Claire Oates, SMU, Sr., M
Allie Thornton, SMU, So., M
Vanessa Valadez,SMU, RS-Jr., F
Tana Dake, Tulsa, Sr., M
Rachel Thun, Tulsa, Sr., M
[*] Denotes unanimous selection
Ties are not broken