PROVIDENCE, R.I. – UCF, which went undefeated in conference play last season, earned the most points and six first-place votes to take the top spot in the 2018 American Athletic Conference preseason coaches’ poll. The Knights totaled 76 points to edge USF (73 points, three first-place votes) for the No. 1 ranking. Memphis garnered the final first-place vote and slots third with 68 points.
The top three teams in the American rankings each accounted for a top preseason individual award. UCF’s Vera Varis earned her second-straight Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year award and was followed in suit by USF’s Evelyne Viens who is now a two-time Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Memphis’ Olivia Gauthier was recognized as the league’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
UCF was ranked 17/18 in the final United Soccer Coaches / TopDrawerSoccer polls last season after the Knights compiled a 13-2-3 record, a 7-0-2 American mark and an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. In addition to Varis, a third-team All-American last season, UCF boasts one of five unanimous selections to the preseason all-conference team in reigning American Rookie of the Year, Dina Orschmann.
The American will have two returning All-Americans in 2018 as Viens looks to lead USF to a second-consecutive conference crown. The Bulls won in thrilling fashion last year, 5-3, in a shootout after a scoreless draw in the championship match. USF also had midfielder Andrea Hauksdottir tabbed to the preseason all-league team.
Memphis leads the pack with three preseason all-conference selections. Gauthier is joined by two unanimous honorees in seniors Marie Levasseur and Elizabeth Woerner.
Cincinnati, SMU, UConn and Houston ranked fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively, and each boasted a preseason all-conference member. The Bearcats’ Sophie Gorman was the final unanimous selection, while the Mustangs’ Allie Thornton, the Huskies’ Vivien Beil and the Cougars’ Jazmin Grant round out the preseason squad.
The 2018 women’s soccer season begins Thursday, August 16, with conference action kicking off on Thursday, September 20.
2018 Preseason Coaches’ Poll
| Place |
School |
Points (1st Place Votes) |
| 1. |
UCF |
76 (6) |
| 2. |
USF |
73 (3) |
| 3. |
Memphis |
68 (1) |
| 4. |
Cincinnati |
54 |
| 5. |
SMU |
53 |
| 6. |
UConn |
39 |
| 7. |
Houston |
34 |
| 8. |
ECU |
24 |
| 9. |
Tulsa |
18 |
| 10. |
Temple |
11 |
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Evelyne Viens, USF, Jr., F
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Olivia Gauthier, Memphis, Sr., D
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Vera Varis, UCF, Sr., GK
Preseason All-Conference Team
Vera Varis, UCF, Sr., GK
Dina Orschmann, UCF, So., F *
Sophie Gorman, Cincinnati, So., F *
Vivien Beil, UConn, Sr., M
Jazmin Grant, Houston, So., F
Olivia Gauthier, Memphis, Sr., D
Marie Levasseur, Memphis, Sr., F *
Elizabeth Woerner, Memphis, Sr., F *
Andrea Hauksdottir, USF, Jr., M
Evelyne Viens, USF, Jr., F *
Allie Thornton, SMU, Jr., F
[*] Denotes unanimous selection