KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The United Soccer Coaches released its preseason top-25 poll on Tuesday with the Cougars coming in at No. 3 nationally.
The No. 3 ranking is the highest preseason ranking in program history. The top-25 preseason rankings have featured the Cougars seven times in the last 10 years and 14 times under head coach Jennifer Rockwood. The highest ranking prior to this year was the 2013 squad who ranked sixth.
Florida State received five first-place votes and is ranked No. 1 followed by Duke at No. 2 who received two first-place votes. With the Cougars at No. 3, Virginia, Santa Clara, Rutgers, TCU, Arkansas, Michigan and North Carolina round out the top-10.
Three WCC teams made the top-25 preseason list including No. 3 BYU, No. 5 Santa Clara and No. 17 Pepperdine.
The Cougars face a strong 2022 schedule, beginning with an exhibition against No. 10 North Carolina in Chapel Hill next week. In addition, BYU will take on No. 5 Santa Clara, No. 8 Arkansas and No. 17 Pepperdine during the regular season.
BYU returns eight starters from the 2021 team that went 17-5-2 in the 2021 season and finished ranked No. 2 after a NCAA College Cup runner-up finish. Along with the veterans, Rockwood also adds eight new freshmen to her 2022 squad.
Among the returning starters for the Cougars is junior midfielder Jamie Shepherd who led the team in minutes played (2,091) last season. Shepherd and senior defender Natalee Wells will serve as captains for the 2022 team as they look to make a second straight trip to the NCAA College Cup.