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Redhawks Picked to Finish First in Preseason WAC Poll

The league's seven head coaches voted SU as the favorite to win the 2013 WAC title.

Redhawks Picked to Finish First in Preseason WAC PollRedhawks Picked to Finish First in Preseason WAC Poll
In a vote of the league’s seven head coaches, Seattle University women’s soccer was picked as the favorite to win the 2013 Western Athletic Conference title. They received six first place votes for 36 total points, 13 points ahead of Idaho and Utah Valley who tied for second.

As the Redhawks made a sweep of the top honors, Stephanie Verdoia (Salt Lake City, Utah) was chosen as Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Julia Besagno (Maple Valley, Wash.) was chosen as Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

In 2012, Verdoia was named First Team All-WAC, as well as receiving NSCAA Third Team All-Pacific Region honors, also named to the WAC All-Tournament team. Besagno received Second Team All-WAC honors last season, and helped lead the SU defense in four shutouts, also scoring three goals.

Seattle U, alongside Idaho, led WAC teams with three preseason all-conference selections each, as Verdoia, Besagno, and Mary Hill (Mercer Island, Wash.) were named to the Preseason All-WAC Team. Bakersfield and Utah Valley each had two honorees, while New Mexico State had one.

Rounding out the poll, Bakersfield finished fourth, New Mexico State finished fifth, Kansas City placed sixth, and Grand Canyon finished in seventh place.

SU also received several nods from College Sports Madness, as Verdoia was named WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Julie Woodward was named WAC Coach of the Year. The agency also named Verdoia, Besagno, Hill, Monique Escalera (Riverside, Calif.), and Brianna Smallidge (Port Orchard, Wash.) to the First Team and Julia Moravec (Spokane, Wash.) to the Second Team.

The Redhawks will begin regular season competition on Friday, Aug. 23 as they host Washington State in their home opener at 5 p.m. Season tickets are now available for $75 for reserved seating and $50 for general admission seating. Single game tickets can also be purchased at the Championship Field gate starting 60 minutes prior to kickoff.

Place Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Seattle U (6) 36
2. (tie) Idaho 23
3. (tie) Utah Valley (1) 23
4. Bakersfield 22
5. New Mexico St. 21
6. Kansas City 13
7. Grand Canyon 9

Preseason All-WAC Team
Stephanie Verdoia, Jr., F, Seattle U
Emily Noethe, Jr., F, Bakersfield
Layla Todd, Jr., F, New Mexico St.
Lexi Robison, Jr., MF, Utah Valley
Julia Besagno, Sr., MF, Seattle U
Erica Shelton, Sr., MF, Bakersfield
Katie Baran, Jr., MF, Idaho
Nitalia Zuniga, Sr., D, Idaho
Mary Hill, Sr., D, Seattle U
Chelsie Breen, Sr., D, Idaho
Lauren Sack, Sr., GK, Utah Valley

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Stephanie Verdoia, Jr., F, Seattle U

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Julia Besagno, Sr., MF, Seattle U