WSOC: UBC enter as favourites
Defending champion T-Birds top pre-season coaches poll
Aug. 24, 2023 – A new Canada West women’s soccer season hits the pitch this Friday, and coaches from around the conference have declared the UBC Thunderbirds as favourites to defend their crown.
The T-Birds, who lost only one conference game in 2022, claimed the CW trophy last season by defeating rival Trinity Western University Spartans in the final. With a strong returning roster and an explosive offensive attack, UBC garnered 14 first place votes to top this year’s pre-season coaches’ poll.
“We have a mature team with most of our starters and game changers returning, along with some electric first year players joining the team,” says head coach Jesse Symons. “We are a team motivated to continuing to progress our standard on the field and hopefully be consistent with our performances in each match that we play.”
The Spartans took second spot in the poll, coming off an impressive year in which they went 9-2-3 in the regular season. Head coach Graham Roxburgh will be looking for his young players to take another step forward.
“We are going to need to have contributions from many players offensively, but I think that has the potential because we have exciting young players,” says Roxburgh.
Two prairie division rivals rounded out the top four in the poll, with the MacEwan Griffins placing third and the Calgary Dinos fourth. Both sides also received a first-place vote.
The action gets underway with a handful of games on Friday, including UBC starting their title defence at home against Fraser Valley. Opening weekend continues with a full slate of matches running through Sunday.
The regular season runs through Oct. 15, with playoffs slated to begin Oct. 21.
For the complete Canada West women’s soccer schedule, click here.
For a compete team-by-team preview, click here.
2023 CW WSOC PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL
Team - Points (First-place votes)
- UBC Thunderbirds - 224 (14)
- Trinity Western Spartans - 205
- MacEwan Griffins - 196 (1)
- Calgary Dinos - 184 (1)
- Alberta Pandas - 148
- Saskatchewan Huskies - 145
- Victoria Vikes - 141
- Mount Royal Cougars - 125
- Thompson Rivers WolfPack - 110
- Manitoba Bisons - 102
- UBCO Heat – 101
- Fraser Valley Cascades - 82
- UNBC Timberwolves – 64
- Regina Cougars - 45
- Lethbridge Pronghorns - 29
- Winnipeg Wesmen – 19
WOMEN'S SOCCER ON CANADA WEST TV
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