The women’s soccer team, coming off its first-ever Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship, has been picked to finish first in the MAC East again this season.
The preseason coaches poll, which was released Monday, gave the Bulls the most first-place votes, seven, of any of the 12 teams in the conference. But most MAC coaches aren’t predicting Buffalo to repeat as conference tournament champs and to return to the NCAA Tournament.
Miami Ohio, who the Bulls defeated last year to clinch the regular season MAC title, received the most votes for MAC Tournament Champion with six. Buffalo, along with Western Michigan and Ball State, received two votes for tournament champion.
Buffalo lost several impact seniors, like MAC Offensive Player of the Year Katie Roberts and Sophie Therien, Courtney Mann and Megan Abman, to graduation. But the Bulls will return second-leading scorer Celina Carrero and reigning MAC Freshmen of the Year goalkeeper Laura Dougall in head coach Shawn Burke’s second year.
The Bulls open their season Aug. 21 at St. Joesph’s.
MAC COAHCES POLL
MAC EAST
1.Buffalo (7)
2.Miami Ohio (4)
3.Kent State (1)
4.Ohio
5.Bowling Green
6.Akron
MAC WEST
1.Ball State (5)
Western Michigan (5)
2.Eastern Michigan (2)
3.Central Michigan
4.Northern Illinois
5.Toledo
Tom Dinki is the editor in chief and can be reached at tom.dinki@ubspectrum.com. Follow him on Twitter @tomdinki.
Photo: Ryan Hagen | UB Athletics
