Washington University Women’s Soccer Picked Second in UAA Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Men Chosen Fourth

Washington University in St. Louis' women's soccer team was picked second and the men's team was chosen fourth in the 2009 University Athletic Association (UAA) Preseason Conference Coaches' Polls, as announced Monday by the conference office.         Washington University, ranked No. 8 in the NSCAA preseason women's poll, has won three-straight UAA titles and five of the last six. Washington U. and Emory University were co-champions a year ago with a 6-1 mark in league play. Second-year head coach Jim Conlon led the Bears to a 15-4-2 overall record in his first season on the Danforth Campus, and guided Washington U. to the NCAA sectional round.         The University of Chicago was selected to win the UAA title for the second-straight season. The Maroons, who picked up four first-place votes, enters the season ranked No. 16. Washington University received the remaining four first-place votes to finish second. The remaining teams in the poll, in order, are the University of Rochester, No. 22 Emory, New York University, Brandeis University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Case Western Reserve University.         The men's team was fourth in the league in 2008 with a 4-3 record, and finished the season with a 12-5-1 overall record. Head coach Joe Clarke has guided Washington University to a 139-67-23 (.657) record in 12 seasons.         Rochester, who shared the UAA title a year ago with Emory, is the preseason favorite to claim the men's championship. The Yellowjackets received four first-place votes and enter the season ranked No. 18.         Carnegie Mellon, ranked No. 21 in the preseason poll, garnered two first-place votes and was picked second. Defending UAA champion and preseason No. 9 Emory garnered the other two first-place votes and was chosen third. Washington U. was picked fourth, while Case Western Reserve, New York, Chicago and Brandeis rounded out the poll. Both teams take the field for their 2009 season opener on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at home against Illinois Wesleyan University. The women's game will start at 5:30 p.m., with the men's game set to begin at 8 p.m. --------------------------------- Christopher Mitchell Director, Sports Information Washington University in St. Louis (314) 935-5077 (Office) (618) 560-9280 (Cell) (314) 935-4600 (Fax) mitchell@wustl.edu (Email) http://bearsports.wustl.edu