Hound soccer picked fourth SSC poll

RICHARDSON, Texas — Eastern New Mexico University’s women, who made the Lone Star Conference soccer tournament for the first time last season, were chosen for sixth place in the league’s preseason poll released this week.

In the five-team men’s Southwest Soccer Conference, ENMU was picked for fourth place. Polls were voted on by league coaches, sports information directors and media.

ENMU’s women went 9-9-1 overall and 4-4-1 for sixth in the league last season, earning the final spot to the LSC postseason tourney.

Central Oklahoma, which has won the league’s regular-season title five times in the past seven years, was a strong choice to win it again this time with 25 of 28 first-place votes and 305 total points. Since their program came into existence in 1998, the Bronchos have compiled an LSC record of 59-13-3.

West Texas A&M was second with two first-place votes and 272 points, with Texas A&M-Commerce drawing the other first-place vote and finishing third with 239 points.

Defending champion Midwestern State garnered all but one of 18 first-place votes in the SSC poll. West Texas A&M, which had the other vote, and Northeastern State were tied for second, followed by ENMU and Missouri Southern.

The Greyhounds were 4-11-3 overall last season, and finished fourth in the conference at 1-6-2.

SSC soccer poll

Team (1st-place votes) Pts.

1. Midwestern State (12) 64

2. Northeastern State 45

tie. West Texas A&M (1) 45

4. Eastern New Mexico 25

5. Missouri Southern 16

LSC soccer poll

Team (1st-place votes) Pts.

1. Central Oklahoma (25) 305

2. West Texas A&M (2) 272

3. Texas A&M-Commerce (1) 239

4. Midwestern State 223

5. Angelo State 209

6. Eastern New Mexico 153

7. Southwestern Oklahoma 118

8. Northeastern State 117

9. Texas Woman’s 102

10. East Central 56

11. Abilene Christian 54