MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –
The No. 11-ranked West Virginia University women's soccer team was chosen No. 1 in the 2019 Big 12 Preseason Poll, as announced by the league on Thursday.
The poll marks the seventh consecutive year in which the Mountaineers have been picked to finish first in the conference. WVU received four first-place votes, earning 75 total points.
The poll is based on votes by the Big 12's 10 head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own team.
No. 14 Baylor and No. 19 Texas received three first-place votes apiece and sit at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, in the preseason poll. From there, TCU was voted No. 4, while No. 22 Texas Tech was placed No. 5.
Kansas ranks No. 6, ahead of Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Iowa State and Kansas State, which rounded out this year's preseason poll.
The Mountaineers claimed their fourth Big 12 Tournament crown in 2018, after defeating Baylor in the championship match. WVU now owns nine total Big 12 Conference titles.
WVU has earned the Big 12's preseason No. 1 ranking and gone on to win the regular-season and postseason titles more times than any other school in conference history.
WVU is 49-4-4 all-time in Big 12 play after posting a 7-2 conference mark last season, finishing in second place.
The Mountaineers open the 2019 season against Duquesne on Friday, Aug. 23, with first kick at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium set for 7 p.m. ET.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow
@WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter.
