KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The SBU Bearcats, finalists in last year's MIAA Tournament, have been picked 5th in the MIAA coaches preseason soccer poll.

SBU returns four starters from last year's 9-8-3 team, which finished 8-5-1 in the MIAA.

SBU's head soccer coach, Benjamin Wade commented: "To be honest I'd much rather begin the season ranked in the middle of the pack and finish at the top - than to be ranked at the top, and finish in the middle."

The MIAA postseason tournament has been discontinued to allow flexibility in scheduling the double round-robin regular season slate. The team or teams with the best regular-season record will be declared MIAA champions.

The MIAA will compete in the South Central Region along with the Lone Star Conference and Heartland Conference in 2008.

SBU opens their regular season against Oakland City (Indiana) on August 29. The travel to Missouri S&T (Rolla) on September 3, then play their first MIAA game at Emporia State on September 11.

2008 MIAA Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll

     School                          Pts
  1. Nebraska-Omaha (4).............. 60
  2. Central Missouri (3)............ 54
  3. Truman (2)...................... 53
  4. Washburn........................ 47
  5. Southwest Baptist............... 34
  6. Missouri Southern............... 31
  7. Northwest Missouri State........ 20
  8. Missouri Western................ 17
  9. Emporia State...................  8
   
Points awarded on an 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. 
Coaches could not vote for their own school.