The Stars are picked at No. 25 to start the season
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University has jumped into the NAIA women’s soccer preseason rankings at No. 25.
The Stars are coming off an 11-7-1 season, which saw them fall in the Sooner Athletic Conference title match to miss the national tournament last year.
“I’m very pleased with the ranking,” OCU coach Brian Harvey said. “It’s based on our strong run in the playoffs last year and making it to the final of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament.”
After a slow start to the season, OCU overcame a myriad of injuries and finished strong in 2009. The team returns six seniors to the talented squad dispersed throughout the field.
Forward Malin Andersson, a senior from Huskvarna, Sweden, returns after an 11-goal, seven-assist season to head the scoring charge.
In the midfield, team captain Alex Miley, a senior from Edmond, Okla., is poised to be a leader to the squad after one goal and two assists in 2009.
The goal will be fiercely defended by senior Brittany Tibbs, from Kansas City, Mo. Tibbs recorded seven shutouts and 68 saves and her third consecutive all-conference award last season.
These three seniors will be joined by a core of talent that encompasses every position, including many who are just joining the Stars program.
“This is a new team with new faces,” Harvey said. “Now we have to live up to the ranking and work hard to climb higher.”
Along with their NAIA national ranking, the Stars were also picked to finish second in the SAC, and even nabbed two first-place votes in the preseason conference poll. John Brown (Ark.), ranked 19th in the NAIA poll, was picked to take the conference by a five-point margin.
OCU will open the regular season at LSU-Shreveport at 11 a.m. Sept. 4. Stars Field will first play host on Sept. 21 against Southwestern Oklahoma State at 6 p.m.
Click here to see the full NAIA rankings.