Chico State Athletics

The Chico State women’s soccer team has consistently played great soccer under eighth-year head coach Kim Sutton. That consistency was recognized when the Wildcats earned the No. 24 spot in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas preseason poll released Tuesday. The Wildcats, who finished 13-5-3 last season, are coming off their first California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) title, their third trip to the NCAA Championship Tournament in four seasons, their third CCAA North Division title in four seasons, and their fourth straight trip to the CCAA Championship Tournament.

Chico State captured the CCAA title a year ago after defeating Cal State L.A. in penalty kicks after the teams played 110 scoreless minutes in the title match of the conference tournament. The Golden Eagles got revenge three days later, beating Chico State on penalty kicks after another 110 scoreless minutes in the opening round of the NCAA Championship Tournament.

However, despite advancing all the way to West Regional final last season, Cal State L.A. did not earn a spot in the preseason rankings. Cal State Dominguez Hills, ranked No. 13, is the only other CCAA team in the preseason rankings. Fellow West Region competitor Seattle Pacific enters the campaign ranked No. 4.

2008 NSCAA/adidas Preseason National Rankings
  1. Tampa (Fla.)
  2. Franklin Pierce (N.H.)
  3. Grand Valley State (Mich.)
  4. Seattle Pacific
  5. Columbus State (Ga.)
  6. Incarnate Word (Texas)
  7. West Chester (Pa.)
  8. Minnesota State-Mankato
  9. Saint Rose (N.Y.)
10. Central Oklahoma
11. Tusculum College (Tenn.)
12. Drury (Mo.)
13. Cal State Dominguez Hills
14. Metropolitan State College (Colo.)
15. C.W. Post (N.Y.)
16. Montevall (Ala.)
17. Slippery Rock (Pa.)
18. Nebraska-Omaha
19. Winona State
20. Saint Leo (Fla.)
21. Mercyhurst (Pa.)
22. Carson-Newman (Tenn.)
23. St. Edwards (Tex.)
24. Chico State
25. Quincy (Ill.)