DENVER, Colo. – The New Mexico State women's soccer team was picked to finish sixth this season in the preseason poll voted on by the league's head coaches the Western Athletic Conference announced on Wednesday.
 
Head coach Freddy Delgado's team secured 19 points in the preseason poll, one spot down from the Aggies' fifth-place finish in 2015 where they went 4-6-0. The four wins in conference play last season tied for the most wins during league play by the Aggies since their inaugural season in 2009 where they finished 4-3-1.
 
 The Aggies return 9-of-11 starters while reloading with 11 newcomers – three of which are junior college transfers. NM State will also have the services of three of its top four point scorers last season in Aileen Galicia (12 points), Holly Abdelkader (11 points) and Devin Hart (10 points).
 
Seattle U and Utah Valley each tallied 46 points with four first-place votes apiece, mirroring their finish last year in the regular-season. UMKC was picked to finish third with 33 points, narrowly edging out CSU Bakersfield who received 32 points.
 
Grand Canyon, who went 4-4-2 last season, garnered 27 points to take the fifth spot while UT Rio Grande Valley (16) and Chicago State (7) rounded things out at seventh and eighth spots, respectively.
 
UMKC sophomore Lexie Howard grabbed Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors while Utah Valley senior Kalli Suesue earned Preseason Defensive Player of the Year accolades.
 
Delgado and the Aggies begin their preseason slate on Monday, Aug. 15, at noon (MT) when they play host to Cochise College in an exhibition match at the Soccer Athletic Complex. Admission is free for all fans.