Big Sky coaches have low hopes for Bears 2010 soccer

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OGDEN, Utah -- The Northern Colorado women’s soccer program will have a lot to prove in its upcoming season after the preseason Big Sky poll was released. The Bears received 14 points in a poll of the league’s eight coaches to finish in last place.

Though the Bears, coming off a 6-10-1 season in 2009, are returning all but two of their starters from last year’s squad, the Big Sky coaches seem to think that the team will have a hard time replacing the leadership of Sydney VanderVelde and Marcie Johnson.

Northern Colorado will look to build off of its sixth place finish in the Big Sky last year as head coach Tim Barrera hopes that an extra year of experience for his squad will see a jump in the standings.

Northern Arizona has been tabbed as the favorite to win the 2010 soccer championship. Of the eight head coaches in the league, six gave their first-place vote to the Lumberjacks, for a total of 48 points. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

Sacramento State finished second in the poll, collecting one first-place vote and 38 total points. Portland State, last season’s regular season champion, finished in third with 36 points and one first-place vote.

Weber State (30), Idaho State (27), Eastern Washington (16) and Montana (15) came in ahead of the Bears in the poll. Both Idaho State and Eastern Washington were conference-tournament participants in 2009. 

The first conference matches are slated for Oct. 7. The top four teams from the regular season will advance to the Big Sky Championship Nov. 4 & 7 at the site of the regular-season champion.