LAKE CHARLES- A day after placing six players on the 2019 Preseason All-Southland Conference Women's Soccer team, McNeese was selected to finish in fourth-place by league head coaches and sports information directors, one spot above their finish last season, as the preseason poll was announced by the conference office on Thursday.
 
The Cowgirls are bringing back eight of their 11 starters from last season and have an abundance of young talent ready to contribute in 2019.
 
Abilene Christian, last year's conference tournament champion, has been picked to repeat, notching 11 of the possible 24 first place votes. Last season's regular season champ, Central Arkansas, was picked to finish second with 10 first place votes. Lamar, McNeese, and Houston Baptist rounded out the top five.
 
"I don't think many people put a ton of emphasis on the preseason poll," said head coach Drew Fitzgerald whose squad posted a program best 13-7-1 overall record and an 7-3-1 mark in league games. "We all know the league is going to be a battle like it has been the past several years. We've been picked last before and won tournament games and have been selected near the top and didn't have a very good season."
 
"I think overall, it's a reflection on how last season finished but I also think the teams ahead of us are deserving. And we won't be sleeping on any of the teams picked behind us either."
 
Picked at No. 6 is Stephen F. Austin followed by Southeastern Louisiana, Northwestern State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and Sam Houston State to round out the top 10. UIW is picked to finish 11th while Nicholls 12th.
 
The Cowgirls continue to prepare for their August 18 exhibition match versus UL-Lafayette and season opener August 23 against Southern.
 
2019 Preseason Poll  
School (First-place votes)                Total
1.      Abilene Christian (11)              227
2.      Central Arkansas (10)             225
3.      Lamar (3)                                 206
4.      McNeese                                 163
5.      Houston Baptist                       146
6.      Stephen F. Austin                    142
7.      Southeastern Louisiana           133
8.      Northwestern State                  94
9.      Texas A&M-Corpus Christi       86
10.   Sam Houston State                   85
11.   UIW                                            55
12.   Nicholls                                      22