WILDCAT WOMEN'S SOCCER PICKED TO FINISH THIRD IN GNAC

Central Tabbed to Finish Behind Rivals SPU, WWU in League Title Race

Coming off its best season since 2000, the Central Washington University women's soccer team has been picked to finish third in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll.

The Wildcats finished 10-7-3 overall and posted their highest finish in the eight-year history of the GNAC by placing third with 6-5-1 record in conference play last season. Central returns a total of 17 lett er winners including eight starters from that team, but will still be one of the younger squads in the seven-team GNAC with just four seniors on its 2009 roster.

Central was picked to finish behind defending NCAA Division II national champion Seattle Pacific and reigning league champion Western Washington in the annual poll. Following the Wildcats in third were Saint Martin's in fourth, Montana State Billings in fifth, Western Oregon in sixth, and Northwest Nazarene in seventh.

Among the top returnees for the Wildcats in 2009 are defensive mainstays Amber Easterbrook (Sr., Kent, Washington/ Kentwood High School) in goal, starting defenders Jessica Andrews (Sr., Spanaway, Washington/Bethel High School), Amanda Biggs (Jr., Carnati on, Washington/Cedarcrest High School), and Hillary Franks (So., Yakima, Washington/West Valley High School). Each of those four started all 20 matches for CWU last season, helping the Wildcats allow just one goal per game and post the program's fourth-best goals-against average (0.96) in its 22-year history. Central's 10 wins were also fifth-most in the history of the program.

In addition to the defensive starters returning, a majority of the offense will be back for the Wildcats, as 23 of the 28 goals scored last season were by players on the 2009 roster. Junior Kaycie Hutchins (Port Orchard, Washington/Bellarmine Preparatory School), who scored four goals and a team-leading seven assists, returns after an second-team all-conference campaign. Sophomore Brittany Franks (Yakima, Washington/West Valley High School), who scored a team-leading five goals, also returns as a forward.

Central Washington began its 19-match season on August 27 with the first of six consecutive contests away from home. The Wildcats embarked on a three-match, five-day road trip to southern California to open the campaign. Central's home opener is scheduled for September 11 against Simon Fraser.

2009 GREAT NORTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL

1. Seattle Pacific (6), 47
2. Western Washington (1), 43
3. CENTRAL WASHINGTON, 34
4. Saint Martin's, 25 1/2
5. Montana State Billings, 22 1/2
6. Western Oregon, 14
7. Northwest Nazarene 8

First-place votes in parenthesis; voting point totals follow institution name.