COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Entering their fifth season in the Southeastern Conference, the Texas A&M Aggies were selected second in the 2016 SEC Preseason Soccer Coaches' Poll, the league announced on Thursday.
The Aggies were edged out by the Florida Gators in voting by the league's 14 head coaches. Texas A&M received 154 points (four first-place votes) and trailed only the Gators, who accumulated 165 points, including 10 first-place votes. Auburn, South Carolina and LSU rounded out the top five.
Points were compiled on a 13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, basis though each coach was not allowed to vote for their own squad.
Texas A&M and Florida have accounted for every SEC title (regular-season and tournament) since the Aggies joined the league in 2012. The teams shared the regular-season title in 2013, Texas A&M won the outright title in 2014 and Florida captured crowns in 2012 and 2015. The Aggies own tournament crowns from 2013 and 2014 and the Gators won the titles in 2012 and 2015.
In 2015, the Aggies finished the season with a 17-7-2 record. They became the first team to ever knock North Carolina out of the NCAA Championship before the Sweet Sixteen round and topped Ole Miss in a penalty kick shootout to advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the sixth time in school history.
Texas A&M is buoyed by a cast of 10 returning starters, including All-American midfielder Mikaela Harvey and All-SEC forward Haley Pounds.
The 24th season of Texas A&M women's soccer commences on Friday, August 19 when the Aggies host the No. 1 Florida State Seminoles in a 7:30 pm contest at Ellis Field.
2016 SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll
(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
Team Points
1. Florida (10) 165
2. Texas A&M (4) 154
3. Auburn 141
4. South Carolina 135
5. LSU 108
6. Missouri 105
7. Kentucky 98
8. Ole Miss 85
9. Tennessee 84
10. Vanderbilt 56
11. Georgia 52
12. Arkansas 35
13. Alabama 29
14. Mississippi State 27
The Aggies were edged out by the Florida Gators in voting by the league's 14 head coaches. Texas A&M received 154 points (four first-place votes) and trailed only the Gators, who accumulated 165 points, including 10 first-place votes. Auburn, South Carolina and LSU rounded out the top five.
Points were compiled on a 13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, basis though each coach was not allowed to vote for their own squad.
Texas A&M and Florida have accounted for every SEC title (regular-season and tournament) since the Aggies joined the league in 2012. The teams shared the regular-season title in 2013, Texas A&M won the outright title in 2014 and Florida captured crowns in 2012 and 2015. The Aggies own tournament crowns from 2013 and 2014 and the Gators won the titles in 2012 and 2015.
In 2015, the Aggies finished the season with a 17-7-2 record. They became the first team to ever knock North Carolina out of the NCAA Championship before the Sweet Sixteen round and topped Ole Miss in a penalty kick shootout to advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the sixth time in school history.
Texas A&M is buoyed by a cast of 10 returning starters, including All-American midfielder Mikaela Harvey and All-SEC forward Haley Pounds.
The 24th season of Texas A&M women's soccer commences on Friday, August 19 when the Aggies host the No. 1 Florida State Seminoles in a 7:30 pm contest at Ellis Field.
2016 SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll
(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
Team Points
1. Florida (10) 165
2. Texas A&M (4) 154
3. Auburn 141
4. South Carolina 135
5. LSU 108
6. Missouri 105
7. Kentucky 98
8. Ole Miss 85
9. Tennessee 84
10. Vanderbilt 56
11. Georgia 52
12. Arkansas 35
13. Alabama 29
14. Mississippi State 27