St. Edward's women's soccer team has been ranked eighth in the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Preseason Poll, voted on by coaches, sports information directors, and media. The team comes off a challenging season (7-10-3 overall, 6-6-2 in conference play) and is under new leadership from head coach Nuno Gourgel. The Hilltoppers advanced to the LSC Tournament quarterfinals after a victory against Lubbock Christian. Key players include Offensive Player to Watch Annie Rocha, who had a strong season despite injuries, and Defensive Player to Watch Tess Dabney, who contributed significantly on defense.

By the Numbers
  • St. Edward's finished last season with a record of 7 wins, 10 losses, and 3 draws.
  • Annie Rocha scored 7 goals and provided 1 assist despite missing 8 matches due to injury.
Yes, But

The Hilltoppers face significant challenges as they seek to improve their eighth-place standing, especially with a new head coach and intense competition from teams like defending champion DBU.

State of Play
  • DBU is favored to win the conference, highlighting the competitiveness of the LSC.
  • St. Edward's will open the season at home against Southwestern Oklahoma State on Aug. 30.
What's Next

As they kick off their season, the Hilltoppers aim to build early momentum and establish a cohesive team dynamic under Coach Gourgel, with a focus on improving their conference ranking.

Bottom Line

St. Edward's women's soccer must leverage its key players and embrace the leadership of a new coach to improve from an eighth-place preseason ranking, striving for a stronger performance in the upcoming season.