Wayland Baptist is picked to finish fifth in the Sooner Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Poll.
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The prediction mirrors last season's finish for the Pioneers, who tied for fifth in the SAC with Central Christian (Kan.) after posting a 4-4 league record. WBU finished with a 9-7-1 overall record after falling to eventual tournament champion University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma in the first round of the SAC Tournament.
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USAO enters 2019 as the favorite, according to the poll of league coaches. USAO nipped John Brown, Ark., by a single point in the polling. The Drovers won the 2018 SAC Tournament championship 2-0 over JBU, capturing the tournament crown for the third time in four years.
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Six SAC coaches placed their top vote for USAO with the Drovers collecting 77 points to John Brown's 76. The Golden Eagles drew four top votes. John Brown advanced past the
NAIA Championship Opening Round and into the
NAIA Championships round of 16 for the first time ever last year.
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Oklahoma City University took the third spot with 61 points, while Texas Wesleyan sat in fourth with 60 points. Oklahoma City and Texas Wesleyan shared the SAC regular-season championship a year ago.
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Wayland stands in fifth at 43 points, and Mid-America Christian came in sixth with 37 points. Seventh place went to Central Christian with Southwestern Christian, Southwestern Assemblies of God and Panhandle State rounding out the poll. Oklahoma-Panhandle State will field a women's soccer team for the first time in 2019.
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The SAC Tournament happens Nov. 9-15 on campus sites. The tournament champion automatically qualifies for the
NAIA Championships.
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WBU unofficially opens the season Aug. 20 with a scrimmage at Western Texas College in Snyder. After two more scrimmages – against Brookhaven College in San Angelo on Aug. 24 and at home against West Texas A&M on Aug. 28 – the Pioneers play their season-opener Sept. 2 in Hobbs, N.M., against University of the Southwest. WBU's home-opener is Sept. 6 against Sul Ross State.
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2019 Sooner Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
| No. |
Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Pts. |
| 1. |
USAO |
6 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
77 |
| 2. |
John Brown |
4 |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
76 |
| 3. |
Oklahoma City |
|
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
61 |
| 4. |
Texas Wesleyan |
|
1 |
6 |
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
60 |
| 5. |
Wayland Baptist |
|
|
|
4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
43 |
| 6. |
Mid-America Christian |
|
|
|
|
4 |
4 |
|
|
1 |
37 |
| 7. |
Central Christian |
|
|
|
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
36 |
| 8. |
SW Christian |
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
27 |
| 9. |
SW Assemblies of God |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
5 |
2 |
20 |
| 10. |
Panhandle State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
6 |
13 |
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