BYU Women’s Soccer Voted As Big 12 Preseason Favorite

PROVO, Utah – BYU women’s soccer has high expectations for its inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference.

In its first year competing in the conference, BYU is picked to win the league. The preseason poll was released on Thursday, and BYU was atop the voting edging out second-place TCU by one point.

#BYU Women's Soccer picked to win the Big 12 in the preseason conference poll.

1. BYU (6 first place votes)
2. TCU (3)
3. Texas (5)
4. West Virginia
5. Texas Tech
6. UCF
7. Oklahoma St.
8. Kansas
9. Oklahoma
10. Houston
11. Baylor
12. Kansas St.
13. Cincinnati
14. Iowa St.…

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) August 10, 2023

BYU boasts a veteran team that features 11 seniors. They are led by preseason All-Big 12 selections Brecken Mozingo (forward), Jamie Shepherd (midfielder), and Laveni Vaka (defender).

Head coach Jennifer Rockwood has built BYU into one of the powerhouse programs in women’s soccer. Rockwood enters her 29th season overseeing the program. Her record is 435-126-54.

She leads BYU into its fourth conference during her tenure (WAC, Mountain West, WCC). Throughout her time as the head coach, BYU has won 16 conference championships.

BYU will have tough competition in the Big 12 Conference. The defending Big 12 regular season champion Texas Longhorns were picked to finish third in the league. BYU will travel to Austin on Monday, September 25.

BYU opens its inaugural Big 12 schedule against No. 2 preseason pick TCU at South Field on Thursday, September 14.

The Big 12 tournament champion West Virginia was picked to finish fourth in the league. BYU didn’t draw the Mountaineers on their 2023 schedule.

2023 Big 12 Soccer Preseason Poll

1. BYU (6 First Place Votes)

2. TCU (3)

3. Texas (5)

4. West Virginia

5. Texas Tech

6. UCF

7. Oklahoma State

8. Kansas

9. Oklahoma

10. Houston

11. Baylor

12. Kansas State

13. Cincinnati

14. Iowa State

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on Twitter/X and Threads: @Mitch_Harper.

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