Women’s Soccer picked to finish second in KCAC in 2023

WICHITA, Kan. — The 2023 KCAC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll was released by the KCAC office and the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes were picked to finish second in the conference race this season.

KWU was 11-8-1 roverall and 10-1-1 in the KCAC last season. The Coyotes finished as the No. 2 seed in the KCAC Tournament and reached the conference tournament semifinals for an unprecedented 18th consecutive season.

Wesleyan is under the direction of Joe Schwartz in his first season after previously coaching at Southwestern College.

Oklahoma Wesleyan was the unanimous preseason favorite, earning 169 total points and 13 of 14 possible first-place votes. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team in the poll, meaning receiving 13 first-place votes is a unanimous pick.

KWU was close behind with 152 points and receiving the other first-place vote.

Friends was third with 140 points, Southwestern was fourth with 124, Tabor was fifth with 123, Ottawa was sixth with 107, Saint Mary was seventh with 96, Avila was eighth with 85, Bethel was ninth with 78, Evangel and McPherson tied for 10th with 58, Bethany was 12th with 35, York was 13th with 32, and Sterling was 14th with 17 points.

The Coyotes open the season on August 23, hosting Concordia (Neb.) at 7 p.m. at JRI Stadium at the Graves Family Sports Complex.