SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Ranked No. 22 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, Santa Clara garnered the top spot in the annual WCC Preseason Coaches Poll as announced on Friday. The Broncos will vie for their fourth WCC crown in the last five seasons when the 2024 campaign begins next Thursday.
The preseason poll and the All-WCC team were selected solely by a vote of the conference’s 11 head coaches. Coaches cannot vote for their own teams and student-athletes.
SCU amassed 98 points in the coaches balloting, including nine first-place votes. The other two first-place votes went to second place Washington State. The Cougars edged third-place Pepperdine with 87 points to 86 for the Waves.
Following fourth-place Portland (68 points) was defending WCC champion Gonzaga with 52 points, tied with Saint Mary's for fifth place in the poll.
On the preseason team, Santa Clara and Pepperdine each boasted three of the 12 selections, while Pepperdine and Washington State featured two players named to the team. The Bulldogs and Gaels each boasted a player on the squad. The preseason team normally consists of 11 members, but this year's team features 12 players due to a tie in voting.
Sally Menti of Santa Clara was named to her fourth straight WCC Preseason Team. She joins her teammate Marissa Vasquez after being named the 2023 WCC Midfielder of the Year and Colby Barnett who picked up her second straight conference preseason accolade.
In addition to Menti and Vasquez, Portland's Bre Norris and Cally Togiai, and Pepperdine's Tori Waldeck were also named to last year's preseason team. Vasquez and Waldeck are appearing on the WCC preseason team for the third straight year.
Four members of the preseason team earned major honors in 2023. In addition to Vasquez, Waldeck won Offensive Player of the Year, Norris won Goalkeeper of the Year and Pepperdine's Julia Quinonez won Freshman of the Year.
Five members on the preseason squad earned All-WCC First Team honors last fall - Taylor Bloom (Pepperdine), Menti, Norris, Vasquez and Waldeck.
WCC Women's Soccer was a three-bid league in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Santa Clara and WCC champion Gonzaga both advanced to the second round, while Pepperdine also earned an at-large bid.
2024 WCC Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll
| Place |
Team |
First Place |
Points |
| 1. |
No. 22 Santa Clara |
9 |
98 |
| 2. |
Washington State |
2 |
87 |
| 3. |
Pepperdine |
|
86 |
| 4. |
Portland |
|
68 |
| 5. |
Gonzaga |
|
52 |
|
Saint Mary's |
|
52 |
| 7. |
San Francisco |
|
49 |
| 8. |
Oregon State |
|
38 |
|
Pacific |
|
38 |
| 10. |
LMU |
|
23 |
| 11. |
San Diego |
|
14 |
| 2024 All-WCC Women's Soccer Preseason Team |
| Name |
Institution |
Yr. |
Pos. |
| Colby Barnett |
Santa Clara |
Sr. |
M |
| Taylor Bloom |
Pepperdine |
Jr. |
D |
| Marissa Garcia |
Gonzaga |
Sr. |
F |
| Reagan Kotschau |
Washington State |
So. |
M |
| Grayson Lynch |
Washington State |
Sr. |
F |
| Sally Menti |
Santa Clara |
Sr. |
M |
| Bre Norris |
Portland |
Sr. |
GK |
| Julia Quinonez |
Pepperdine |
So. |
F |
| Briana Salvetti |
Saint Mary's |
Jr. |
F |
| Cally Togiai |
Portland |
Sr. |
F |
| Marissa Vasquez |
Santa Clara |
Sr. |
M |
| Tori Waldeck |
Pepperdine |
Gr. |
F |