DENVER – The annual Western Athletic Conference Preseason Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Poll was released on Thursday, and Tarleton was tabbed to finish 12th ahead of the 2022 season.
The Texans received 21 points. Head coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team or players for preseason all-conference awards.
Tarleton’s debut D1 season sets sail along the Texas Gulf on Friday with a 7 pm exhibition match against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Soccer in Stephenville then officially becomes a reality when the Texans begin the regular season with a two-match, multi-team event vs. North Dakota State and Nicholls on Aug. 19-21 in Thibodaux, Louisiana. The first home soccer game in school history then takes center stage, as the program hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 7 pm on Aug. 25 at the Tarleton Soccer Complex.
The Texans’ inaugural roster features 16 freshmen and six transfers, five of whom boast D1 playing experience. Tarleton is led by three-time D1 conference coach of the year, Pete Cuadrado.
“I can’t believe they picked a team who has never lost a game to finish last, but I guess we’ll just have to go out and compete,” said Cuadrado with a smile.
The complete coaches’ poll and Preseason All-WAC Team are listed below.
| Rank | Team (1st Place Votes) | Points |
| 1. | Grand Canyon (8) | 117 |
| 2. | Utah Valley (4) | 110 |
| 3. | Stephen F. Austin | 90 |
| 4. | California Baptist | 84 |
| 5. | New Mexico State | 74 |
| 6. | Seattle U | 72 |
| 7. | Abilene Christian | 62 |
| 8. | Utah Tech | 46 |
| 9. | Sam Houston | 42 |
| 10. | UTRGV | 39 |
| 11. | Southern Utah | 25 |
| 12. | Tarleton | 21 |
2022 WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Gianna Gourley, Grand Canyon
2022 WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Jenna Shepherd, Utah Valley
2022 Preseason All-WAC Team
Julianna Carter, Sr., F, Utah Valley
Colleen Feagins, Jr., F, Stephen F. Austin
Gianna Gourley, Jr., F, Grand Canyon
Lindsey Prokop, Jr., F, Grand Canyon
Brenna Alderson, So., MF, Grand Canyon
Emily Bunnell, Grad, MF, Seattle U
Xitlaly Hernandez, Jr., MF, New Mexico State
Heather Stainbrook, Jr., MF, Utah Valley
Sydney Bushman, Jr., D, Utah Valley
Erin Gallagher, Sr., D, California Baptist
Reese Mendenhall, So., D, Grand Canyon
Jenna Shepherd, Jr., D, Utah Valley
Jordan Ferguson, So., GK, Grand Canyon