MOSCOW, Idaho – Your back-to-back Big Sky Regular Season Champion Vandals have been picked to finish fourth in the conference this season, as voted on by the league's head coaches.
 
"It's to be expected, with us losing nine seniors, seven starters from last year," said head coach Derek Pittman.  "It's no surprise that people feel like we may fall off a little bit and not be able to produce what we have in the last two years.  But it's definitely going to give our players something to prove.  We know what we have in our roster and we'll be ready for the season.  We're just excited about the opportunity to get things rolling in a couple weeks."
 
Eastern Washington, the defending tournament champions, were picked first with 95 points and eight first place votes.  From there, second through fourth was very close, with NAU (80 points), Montana (76 points) and Idaho (75 points).  Northern Colorado and Sacramento State rounded out the teams projected to make the Big Sky Tournament.
 
The Vandals have been in this position before, as they were picked to finish ninth ahead of their remarkable and unbeaten 2015 season.
 
"Everybody can use these preseason polls in different ways," Pittman continued.  "I know our players are very motivated, as they are each and every year.  They want to prove that they belong at the top of the league like we have been the last two years.  We know we're going to have to go out and earn it.
 
"That's the beauty of the Big Sky, it's pretty wide open.  Anybody can beat anybody else on any given day.  We'll take it one game at a time just like we always do.  Our players will go out and execute our gameplan with whoever we're lined up against.  I know our players will respond well, and make sure that everyone understands that we're not going anywhere as Vandals."
 
The regular season schedule does favor the Vandals slightly, with home matches against four of the other five teams in the top-6.
 
The regular season kicks off on the road at UC Santa Barbara on Friday, August 18.  The Vandals return home to take on in-state rival Boise State on Friday, August 25, in the first NCAA women's soccer game played indoors. 
 
Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho soccer by following the team on Twitter and Instagram, @VandalsSoccer, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals Women's Soccer.

For more information on Idaho Athletics, visit GoVandals.com.  Fans can also find Idaho on Twitter and Instagram, @Idaho_Vandals, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals.
 
Rank            Team                                                 Points (First)
1                    EWU                                                  95 (8)
2                    NAU                                                  80 (1)
3                    Montana                                         76
4                    Idaho                                                75 (1)
5                    Northern Colorado                      68 (1)
6                    Sacramento State                        60
7                    Weber State                                   51
8                    Idaho State                                     33
9                    Portland State                               32
10                 Southern Utah                              20
11                 North Dakota                                 15