CSU Sports Information Department
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Columbus State University women's soccer team will open up the 2018 campaign ranked 12th, as the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll was released on Tuesday. The Lady Cougars begin 2018 where last season left off, as they were ranked 12th in the final poll of 2017. Reigning national champion Central Missouri sits atop the poll with Carson-Newman ranked second. UC-Colorado Springs and Mercy College are tied for third, while UC San Diego rounds out the top five.
Columbus State's 2018 schedule features three teams ranked in the preseason top 25, including an opening weekend showdown with second-ranked Carson-Newman. The Lady Cougars and Eagles have met in two of the last three Southeast Region finals, with CSU taking the region title in 2015 and C-N winning last season. Following its match with Carson-Newman, the Lady Cougars will venture to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. for a showdown with No. 23 Nova Southeastern. The Sharks were the two seed in the South Region last season. The other ranked showdown on the schedule comes in the middle of September, on the road at No. 21 Flagler. The Saints finished 2017 with a 16-3-2 record, suffering all three losses at the hands of the Lady Cougars.
Practice begins for Columbus State on Monday, Aug. 13 and the opening match of the year happens Aug. 31 against Embry-Riddle as part of the CSU Collegiate Invitational.