Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Soccer Team Picked to Finish Second in the MAC
8/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
MOUNT PLEASANT — The Central Michigan women’s soccer team has been picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference standings in the 2009 MAC women’s soccer preseason poll voted on by the head coaches and released by the conference office on Wednesday.
The Chippewas return nine letterwinners and eight starters from the breakout 2008 squad that went 12-5-3 and posted a 6-2-3 record in MAC play last season, finishing second in the conference standings. CMU opened up its conference slate with a seven-match unbeaten streak and earned its highest league finish since 1999. The 12 wins were the second most recorded in one season by the Chippewas. The squad also advanced to the MAC Tournament semifinals for the first time since 2005.
Seniors Amanda Waugh (22 points in 2008) and Stephanie Martin (20 points) return to the mix after earning first team All-MAC honors last fall. Other notable returners include a pair of All-MAC second teamers in junior Shay Mannino and sophomore Liesel Toth along with MAC all-freshman pick Claire Horton. Head coach Tom Anagnost enters his second season at the helm of the program after being named MAC Coach of the Year in 2008.
“I am pleased with how the coaches in the conference feel about our program and where it is going,” Anagnost said. “There is a lot of parity in the MAC and not much separates the top half of the conference from the bottom half. The conference season is going to be tightly contested and won’t be decided until the very end.”
Defending champion Toledo was selected as the favorite to take both the regular and postseason title.
The Chippewas open their season at IPFW on Saturday night at 8 p.m.
2009 MAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Toledo

2. Central Michigan

3. Bowling Green

4. Eastern Michigan

5. Miami

6. Kent State

7. Northern Illinois

8. Ohio

9. Western Michigan

10. Ball State

11. Akron

12. Buffalo


Tournament Champion: Toledo (10), Eastern Michigan (1), Bowling Green (1)
