Arizona soccer picked 12th in Big 12 preseason poll

Arizona soccer defender Zoe Mendiola | Photo courtesy of Arizona Athletics The Big 12 soccer coaches expect the Arizona Wildcats to do better this year. They just don’t expect UA to do well enough to make the conference tournament. The league released its preseason poll on Monday. Arizona was select

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What is the story about?

The Big 12 soccer coaches expect the Arizona Wildcats to do better this year. They just don’t expect UA to do well enough to make the conference tournament.

The league released its preseason poll on Monday. Arizona was selected 12th a year after finishing 14th in the 16-team league. The top eight teams make the conference tournament.

Not only were the Wildcats projected to be in the bottom quarter of the league, but they were frozen

out of the preseason all-conference team. It was the second straight year that no Arizona players earned preseason honors.

The Wildcats will continue preparations for the season when they travel to play a road exhibition at UC Irvine. That match is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 6 p.m. MST.

The regular season starts with a road match at GCU on Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. MST. The Wildcats make their home debut against New Mexico State on Saturday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. MST.