NEW ORLEANS – Monday saw the Sun Belt Conference release the coaches preseason poll with the Texas State soccer team coming in fifth.
 
The Bobcats are coming off a 12-5-2 season in which they finished tied for first in the West Division and fifth overall in head coach Steve Holeman's first season at the helm. Returning are 16 players from the squad led by junior midfielder Madi Goss, who, despite being a first-team all-conference selection and netting nine goals last season, was not chosen to the preseason All-Sun Belt squad.
 
James Madison and South Alabama tied atop the poll with 179 points apiece and five and three first-place votes, respectively. Picking up four first-place selections and coming in two back of the Dukes and Jaguars was Old Dominion. Coming in fourth with 153 points and two first-place votes was Georgia Southern.
 
Rounding out the top half of the poll behind Texas State was Georgia State (124 pts) and Arkansas State (120 pts), respectively.
 
The Bobcats play two exhibition matches this weekend at TCU (Aug. 9) and Texas A&M (Aug. 11). The regular season kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 17 against McNeese in the first of 10 home contests at the Bobcat Soccer Complex.
 
2023 SUN BELT CONFERENCE WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL
T-1. James Madison (5) – 179 points
T-1. South Alabama (3) – 179 points
3. Old Dominion (4) – 177 points
4. Georgia Southern (2) – 153 points
5. Texas State – 132 points
6. Georgia State – 124 points
7. Arkansas State – 120 points
8. App State – 88 points
9. Marshall – 76 points
10. Coastal Carolina – 61 points
T-11. Louisiana – 47 points
T-11. ULM – 47 points
13. Southern Miss – 45 points
14. Troy – 42 points
 
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