FARMINGTON, Utah – After appearing in its third Big Sky Conference title game in the last four seasons in 2019, the Eastern Washington University soccer team has been predicted to finish third in the Big Sky Preseason Poll, as announced today (July 21).
The poll is voted on by the league's 10 head coaches, and coaches cannot vote for their own team. The Eagles earned 66 points and two first-place votes, finishing just behind Northern Colorado who was picked second with 69 votes and two first-place tallies. Montana, the 2019 regular season champions, was selected first. A full breakdown of the poll can be found below.
"Preseason polls are always a difficult thing, especially this year more than ever with not knowing what is going to happen with our season," noted seventh-year head coach
Chad Bodnar. "We have been picked seventh and won the league and we've also been picked first and won. It's a good spot to be picked third and it shows people recognize the quality we have coming back. We have a great group of older players and some good, young, talent in. I think we are just hoping to get to play and let it unfold. I am confident where we will be at the end of the season, this is a very special group of players."
Eastern Washington is loaded with returners as it brings back 10 starters and 21 returners overall. Returners include the 2019 Co-Defensive Player of the Year,
Taylor Matheny, Newcomer of the Year,
Madison Kem, and first-team selection,
Sariah Keister.
Kelsee Winston, who is already the school record holder in career shutouts, will return between the posts.
Additionally, nine Eagles scored at least two goals last season and eight of them will suit up in 2020. The Eagles also welcome eight newcomers.
Eastern Washington strung together an overall record of 11-8-2 for the program's fifth-straight winning season in 2019. They had a mark of 6-2-1 in conference play, finishing third in the regular season and qualifying for the sixth-straight Big Sky Tournament. The Eagles finished the postseason as the conference runners-up after being edged by Northern Colorado, 1-0, in the championship match.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has left a question mark on the 2020 season, as various non-conference opponents have already postponed their start dates or canceled non-conference play completely. The Eagles are still set to begin conference play on Oct. 2 at Northern Arizona.
2020 BIG SKY PRESEASON COACHES POLL
- Montana – 70 (4 first-place votes)
- Northern Colorado – 69 (2)
- Eastern Washington – 66 (2)
- Sacramento State – 65 (1)
- Northern Arizona – 49 (1)
- Weber State – 40
- Idaho – 34
- Portland State – 22
- Idaho State – 18
- Southern Utah – 17
