FARMINGTON, UTAH — After finishing ninth in Big Sky last season, Eastern Washington women's soccer was picked to finish eighth in the 2024 Big Sky preseason coaches' poll, as announced by the conference on Monday.
Head coach Missy Strasburg begins her fourth season leading the Eagles and the team earned 22 points to land in the eighth spot. Eastern was one point behind Idaho State in seventh and one point ahead of Northern Colorado for ninth.
The team finished with a 2-14-1 overall record last season, going 1-6-1 in conference games. Eastern returns 18 players and eight starters from last year's team, while adding 10 newcomers.
Forwards Gillian Martin and Chloe Pattinson co-lead lead all returning players with eight goals last season.Two juniors lead all returners with the most minutes played on the team in Riley Arribas (1042) and Becca Gaido (1064).
Both goalkeepers return as well. Junior Kamryn Willoughby started in nine games and totaled 64 saves, and senior Kiara Matson started in eight games and totaled 51 saves.
Defending conference champions Idaho were picked third, earning two first place votes. Defending regular season champion Montana was selected first, earning five first place votes.
The Eagles' regular season begins on Thursday, Aug. 15 against the Troy Tojans in Troy, Alabama.
2024 Big Sky Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Montana (5) – 56
- Northern Arizona (1) – 51
- Idaho (2) – 47
- Portland State – 37
- Sacramento State – 36
- Weber State – 31
- Idaho State 23
- Eastern Washington – 22
- Northern Colorado (1) – 21
() – Indicates Number of First-Place Votes
ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.
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