NEW ORLEANS – On Wednesday, the Sun Belt Conference released the preseason coaches' poll that saw the Texas State soccer team come in eighth in the 14-team league.
 
The Bobcats totaled 118 points to finish eight points back of App State and South Alabama, both of which picked up a first-place vote. Sitting atop the poll with 181 points and first-place selections is two-time defending conference tournament champion Old Dominion. Right behind the Monarchs is James Madison, which picked up three first-place votes and 177 points.
 
Rounding out the top five is ULM with 138 points and both Georgia Southern and Georgia State (1 first-place vote) tied for fourth with 134 points.
 
Coming in behind TXST was Louisiana in ninth at 74 points. Arkansas State and Southern Miss tied for 10 with 57 points and were two points ahead of Coastal Carolina. Marshall had 48 points with one first-place pick that kept it out of 13th-place while Troy rounded out the poll with 45 points.
 
Last season, the Bobcats finished with a 9-7-4 record and compiled a 3-3-4 mark in the Sun Belt. Returning are 20 players from that squad that includes five starters in the midfield and four on the backline. Mady Soumare is the team's returning leading scorer with four goals while the foursome of Halle Garcia, Zoe Junior, Victoria Meza and Mya Ulloa all found the back of the net three times.
 
Kennley Bradley returns after setting a new program record for a defender with six assists. Other returners on the backline are Anna Dunch, Lucy Hart and Addison Peters.
 
Texas State plays its lone exhibition match on Friday at Abilene Christian with kickoff set for 7 p.m. The regular season will begin on Aug. 15 at Rice with the home opener coming a week later against I-35 rival UTSA.
 
2024 SUN BELT CONFERENCE WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Old Dominion (7) – 181 points
2. James Madison (3) – 177 points
3. ULM – 138 points
T-4. Georgia Southern – 134 points
T-4. Georgia State (1) – 134 points
T-6. App State (1) - 126 points
T-6. South Alabama (1) – 126 points
8. Texas State – 118 points
9. Louisiana – 74 points
T-10. Arkansas State - 57 points
T-10. Southern Miss – 57 points
12. Coastal Carolina - 55 points
13. Marshall (1) – 48 points
14. Troy – 45 points
 
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