Rainbow Wahine soccer team picked to win WAC, sweeps preseason awards | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Rainbow Wahine soccer team picked to win WAC, sweeps preseason awards | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper

Updated at 9:22 a.m., Monday, August 4, 2008

Rainbow Wahine soccer team picked to win WAC, sweeps preseason awards

WAC COACHES POLL

1. Hawai'i (7 first-place votes) 49

2. Fresno State (1) 40

3. Utah State 37

4. Boise State 30

5. Nevada 28

6. San Jose State 18

7. Idaho 14

8. Louisiana Tech 8

PRESEASON ALL-WAC TEAM

Ambree Ako, F, Hawai'i, Jr.

Randi Baker, MF, Boise State, Sr.

Taryn Fukuroku, F, Hawai'i, Sr.

Selena Gill, D, Fresno State, Sr.

Tehane Higa, D, Hawai'i, Sr.

Kori Lu, GK, Hawai'i, Sr.

Nicole Mikula, D, Hawai'i, So.

Miranda Montejo, MF, Nevada, Sr.

Shannon Saxton, F, Boise State, So.

Alison Sill, MF, Fresno State, Sr.

Lindsey Smart, D, Utah State, Jr.

Offensive Player of the Year: Ako

Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Higa and Smart

The University of Hawai'i soccer team was picked by league coaches to defend its Western Athletic Conference title.

The Rainbow Wahine also swept the preseason awards in voting by coaches.

Reigning WAC Offensive Player of the Year, Hawai'i's Ambree Ako, is the preseason pick for Offensive Player of the Year. Teammate Tehane Higa shared the Co-Defensive Player of the Year honor along with Utah State's Lindsey Smart. Higa was last year's WAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Five Rainbow Wahine were named to the 11-member preseason all-conference team. Joining Ako and Higa were Taryn Fukuroku, Kori Lu and Nicole Mikula.

Hawai'i, last year's WAC champion, received seven of eight first-place votes for 49 points. Fresno State was second with 40.

Hawai'i, 15-5-2 last year, opens the season on Aug. 27 against Long Beach State at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

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