Washington University Men’s Soccer Picked 1st in University Athletic Association Preseason Coaches Poll, Women Chosen 2nd

Christopher Mitchell
Director Sports Information


St. Louis, Mo., August 28, 2007

Washington University in St. Louis’ men’s soccer team was picked first and the women’s team was chosen second in the 2007 University Athletic Association (UAA) Preseason Conference Coaches’ Polls, as announced by the conference office.

The men’s team, who won its final three games to come within a game of claiming the UAA title last fall, garnered four first-place votes in earning top honors with 43 points. New York University, which advanced to their first NCAA Division III final four in 2006, is the coaches' choice to finish second in the standings, earning a pair of first-place votes in tallying 40 points.

Case Western Reserve University, which won its last four UAA contest en route to claiming its first UAA championship in 2006, garnered a first-place vote in being picked to finish third with 38 points. The University of Rochester was picked fourth in the standings, getting one first-place vote in totaling 36 points. Rounding out the remaining teams in the poll, in order, are the University of Chicago (27 points), Carnegie Mellon University (20), Emory University (12), and Brandeis University (nine).

The men’s squad finished the 2006 UAA season tied for second place, with a 4-2-1 conference record. Washington U. recovered from a slow 1-2-1 start to league play to end the regular season on a three-game winning streak. The Bears’ 12-3-2 overall record resulted in the team’s first postseason berth since 1999.

Rochester, winners of 11 UAA titles since the formation of the league, is the preseason favorite to claim the women's championship. The Yellowjackets, who finished second in the standings last fall with a 5-1-1 record, edged defending Association champion Washington U. for the top spot, garnering five first-place votes en route to 46 points. The Bears, winners of three of the last four UAA titles (co-champion with Emory in 2004), claimed the remaining three first-place votes for 44 points.

Chicago is the coaches’ pick to finish third, collecting 38 points, while Emory was picked to finish fourth with 32 points. Carnegie Mellon (23 points), Brandeis (18), New York (13) and Case Western Reserve (10) rounded out the eight teams.

The women’s team finished the 2006 season with a program-best 17-3 overall record and advanced to NCAA Sectionals. The Bears posted a 7-0 record in UAA play, capturing their fourth conference championship in school history. Head coach Wendy Dillinger has guided Washington U. to a 69-21-8 overall record in five seasons on the Danforth Campus.

The women take the field for their 2007 season opener Fri., August 31 at 3 p.m., against Birmingham Southern at the Rhodes College Classic in Memphis, Tenn. The men also begin the season on Fri., August 31 in Memphis, Tenn., facing Rhodes at 5:30 p.m.