Richardson, Texas - DBU is predicted to win its fifth consecutive Lone Star Conference women's soccer championship according to the 2024 preseason poll, it was announced on Wednesday (Aug. 28). DBU's Taylor Tufts and Parker Coe also claimed preseason player of the year honors along with Texas Woman's Amanda Farris.
 
The preseason poll and preseason players of the year are voted on by LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
 
DBU totaled 587 points and collected all but one of the possible 42 first-place votes. Head coach Marcus Wood's Patriots were 14-1-4 overall and 9-0-3 in league play last season. The Patriots also captured their second straight conference tournament title and third overall (also in 2019). DBU reached the second round of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship and finished the 2023 season ranked in the top 20 in the country.
 
St. Mary's was the pick as conference runner-up with 519 points. The Rattlers went 11-6-5 overall and 8-3-1 in league play last year. St. Mary's reached the LSC tournament title match last season.
 
Four-time LSC champion Angelo State was picked to finish third with 500 points. The Rambelles, who have won three LSC tournament crowns (2022, 2021 and 2018), finished 9-7-4 overall and 7-2-3 in league play last season.
 
Texas Woman's was predicted to finish in fourth place with 456 points. Four-time LSC champion Midwestern State was selected in fifth place with 420 points, followed by Texas A&M International (348 points), St. Edward's (323 points), Lubbock Christian (278 points), Oklahoma Christian (234 points), UT Tyler (216 points), eight-time league champion West Texas A&M (200 points), UT Permian Basin 176 points), Eastern New Mexico (88 points) and new league member Sul Ross State (65 points). St. Edward's picked up the other first-place vote.
 
Tufts was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. The senior midfielder from Southlake, Texas, led the conference with 31 points (seven goals and NCAA Division II-best 17 assists). Tufts also had two game-winning goals, was named an all-American and was voted the LSC's player, newcomer and forward of the year.
 
Coe was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The junior forward from Carrollton, Texas, helped fuel a unit that allowed just 10 goals and recorded 13 shutouts.
 
Farris was named Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. The senior from Bryan, Texas, led the league in shutouts (11), save percentage (.891) and goals-against average (.373).
 
Additionally, 40 players – 14 offensive, 14 defensive and 12 goalkeepers – were selected for the LSC Women's Soccer Preseason Players to Watch list. The student-athletes were nominated by their member institution.
 
The LSC women's soccer season begins on Sept. 5. To see the schedule, click here.
 
The seven-team LSC Women's Soccer Championship will be held Nov. 12 (quarterfinals), Nov. 15 (semifinals) and Nov. 17 (final). The No. 1 seed receives a first-round bye. The quarterfinals will be held on campus, while the semifinals and title match will be hosted by the No. 1 seed.
 
All LSC soccer matches can be viewed live on FloSports.
 
 
2024 LSC WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL, AWARDS, PLAYERS TO WATCH
 
Preseason Poll
Rank     School                 1st                  Total
1             DBU                    41                  587
2             St. Mary's                                  519
3             Angelo State                              500
4             Texas Woman's                         456
5             Midwestern State                      420
6             Texas A&M International           348
7             St. Edward's          1                  323
8             Lubbock Christian                     278
9             Oklahoma Christian                  234
10           UT Tyler                                    216
11           West Texas A&M                       200
12           UT Permian Basin                    176
13           Eastern New Mexico                  88
14           Sul Ross State                           65
 
 
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Taylor Tufts, MF, Sr., DBU
 
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Parker Coe, D, Jr., DBU
 
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Amanda Farris, GK, Sr., Texas Woman's
 
 
Offensive Players to Watch

NAME	SCHOOL	CLASS	POS.	MAJOR	HOMETOWN
Mariah Griffin	Angelo State	Sr.	F/MF	Health Sci. Professions	Midlothian, Texas
Taylor Tufts	DBU	Sr.	MF	Kinesiology	Southlake, Texas
Abby Ditzler	Eastern New Mexico	Jr.	F	Wildlife and Fisheries	Keller, Texas
Lexi De La Cruz	Lubbock Christian	Sr.	F	Middle School Education	Lubbock, Texas
Lexi Beck	Midwestern State	Sr.	MF	Management	Fort Worth, Texas
Kyla Lovelace	Oklahoma Christian	Sr.	F	Interdisciplinary Studies	Mustang, Okla.
Tristyn Cabello	St. Edward's	Sr.	F	Kinesiology	Austin, Texas
Shelby Paniagua	St. Mary's	Jr.	MF	Excercise & Sport Science	Cibolo, Texas
Luz Ruiz	Sul Ross State	Jr.	F	Kinesiology/Human Perf.	Santa Cruz, Calif.
Sammy Hecht	Texas A&M International	Gr.	F	Business Administration	Holland, Mich.
Alyssa Striker	Texas Woman's	So.	F	Kinesiology	Wylie, Texas
Laura Perez	UT Permian Basin	Sr.	MF	Biology	Salamanca, Spain
Sydnee Garner	UT Tyler	Gr.	MF	Business Administration	Midlothian, Texas
Avery Putnam	West Texas A&M	So.	MF	Mechanical Engineering	Austin, Texas

Defensive Players to Watch

NAME	SCHOOL	CLASS	POS.	MAJOR	HOMETOWN
Katelin Heise	Angelo State	Gr.	D	Exercise Science	Lubbock, Texas
Parker Coe	DBU	Jr.	D	Education	Carrollton, Texas
Sierra Villanueva	Eastern New Mexico	Sr.	MF/D	Social Work	Aztec, N.M.
Kenley Blevins	Lubbock Christian	Sr.	MF	Psychology	Lubbock, Texas
Bella Pillow	Midwestern State	Fr.	D	Undecided	Wichita Falls, Texas
Holland Reece	Oklahoma Christian	Sr.	D	Interdisciplinary Studies	Steamboat Spring, Colo.
McKenna Keeley	St. Edward's	Sr.	MF	Psychology	Frisco, Texas
Valerie Hover	St. Mary's	Jr.	D	Mechanical Engineering	McKinney, Texas
Serena Escobar	Sul Ross State	Sr.	D	Nursing	Harlingen, Texas
Sierra Clarke	Texas A&M International	Sr.	D	Kinesiology	Los Angeles, Calif.
Alyssa Valdez	Texas Woman's	Sr.	D	Business Administration	Dallas, Texas
Kristel Chaves	UT Permian Basin	Sr.	D	Human Performance	San Jose, Costa Rica
Brooklyn Robinson	UT Tyler	Gr.	D	Business Administration	Spring, Texas
Kyndahl Britton	West Texas A&M	Sr.	D	Music	Pflugerville, Texas

Goalkeepers to Watch

NAME	SCHOOL	CLASS	MAJOR	HOMETOWN
Amber Lockwood	Angelo State	Sr.	Aviation	San Antonio, Texas
Yaritza Pelayo	Eastern New Mexico	Sr.	Psychology	Everett, Wash.
Kara Murray	Lubbock Christian	So.	Finance	Lubbock, Texas
Allison Dellis	Midwestern State	So.	Engineering	Denton, Texas
Daria Schlumbohm	St. Edward's	So.	Academic Exploration	Bremen, Germany
Rebecca Difronzo	St. Mary's	Sr.	Business	Bari, Italy
Celeste de la Rosa	Sul Ross State	Jr.	Psychology	El Paso, Texas
Claramalia Pedersen	Texas A&M International	Fr.	Psychology	Copenhagen, Denmark
Amanda Farris	Texas Woman's	Sr.	Marketing	Bryan, Texas
Valeria Delgado	UT Permian Basin	So.	Criminology	San Jose, Costa Rica
Emily Clark	UT Tyler	Jr.	Kinesiology	Bullard, Texas
Teagan Heelan	West Texas A&M	Sr.	Engineering	Kearney, Nev.