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BYU women’s soccer: Cougars getting national love

By Shaun Gordon

FULLERTON, CA - JULY 20: A detailed view of the MLS/SuperLiga ball in play during the SuperLiga match between CD Chivas USA and the New England Revolution at Titan Stadium on July 20, 2008 in Fullerton, California. The Revolution and Chivas USA played to a 1-1 draw. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
FULLERTON, CA - JULY 20: A detailed view of the MLS/SuperLiga ball in play during the SuperLiga match between CD Chivas USA and the New England Revolution at Titan Stadium on July 20, 2008 in Fullerton, California. The Revolution and Chivas USA played to a 1-1 draw. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /
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BYU women’s soccer is getting a lot of love in the national polls, but not so much love from the coaches in their own conference.

Back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back for BYU women’s soccer.

That’s a lot of backs. Five of them. One for each consecutive WCC Championship won by the Cougars.

They’ve become one of the premier teams in the NCAA, dominating a conference that’s traditionally considered a soccer powerhouse.

And the nation has taken notice.

The preseason United Soccer Coaches poll is out, and the Cougars come in at No. 8. They’re the second BYU team to crack the preseason Top 10 this year (Women’s Volleyball enters the year at No. 10).

The Cougars are loaded with talent, led by Hermann Trophy candidate Taylor Isom. Even with the loss of Ashley Hatch and Michele Vasconcelos, don’t expect much drop, if any, from last year’s Top 10 team.

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Yet less than a week later, the WCC coaches are showing a lot less faith in the Cougar kickers.

In the recently released WCC preseason poll, the Cougars have been picked to finish second to Santa Clara.

The Broncos are a very good team, entering the year at No. 24 in the country.

Unfortunately, this is nothing new for the Cougars.

But how do you pick against the team that’s won the conference five times in a row? The team that the national coaches consider one of the 10 best in the country?

It definitely makes you raise an eyebrow, but it’s not the first time the WCC coaches have underestimated BYU women’s soccer. In the seven seasons since the Cougars switched conferences, they’ve only been picked to win the WCC three times.

In 2012, the Cougars were picked to finish fourth. They won the title.

In 2013, the Cougars were picked to finish third. They won the title.

Only time will tell if BYU can make it six in a row and keep their spot among the elite programs in the country.

But a betting man wouldn’t bet against it.

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