SPOKANE (Aug. 31) -- The 2010 Central Washington University women's soccer team has been projected to finish exactly where it left off in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings, as the Wildcats have been tabbed for a fourth-place finish according to the GNAC pre-season coaches' poll.

Central concluded the 2009 season with an 8-10-1 overall record and a conference mark of 5-6-1 to place fourth in the then-seven-team GNAC. With the addition of Simon Fraser University to the conference this year, the league now stands at eight soccer-playing members. CWU is returning 15 letter winners from the 2009 squad, eight of which started more than half of the Wildcats' 19 matches last season.

In this year's poll, Central was voted to tie for fourth with newcomer Simon Fraser. The Wildcats are picked behind the three teams that finished ahead of them last season -- Seattle Pacific, Western Washington, and Saint Martin's. Following the Wildcats and Clan were Montana State Billings in sixth, Western Oregon in seventh, and Northwest Nazarene in eighth. Seattle Pacific earned six first-place votes while Western Washington and Central each received one.

Led by senior forward Kaycie Hutchins (Port Orchard/Bellarmine Prep) and junior forward Serena Tomaso (Enumclaw), the bulk of the Wildcats' offense in 2009 will return this year as 28 of the team's 33 goals last year were scored by players on the 2010 roster. Hutchins, a second-team all-conference selection in 2009, was the Wildcats' leading scorer last season with 18 points (five goals, conference-leading eight assists). Tomaso was also a second team all-conference selection, finishing right behind Hutchins in scoring with 14 points (five goals, four assists).

The Central defense returns two starters in senior Amanda Biggs (Carnation/Cedarcrest) and junior Hillary Franks (Yakima/West Valley). Biggs is the Wildcats' most experienced defender, entering the 2010 season with 57 career starts including 17 a year ago. Franks, a 2009 honorable mention all-conference nominee, begins her third year as a starter for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats open their season on Saturday (Sept. 4) with a night match at Chico State (7 p.m.). Central will play its first five matches on the road, before making its home debut on Sept. 18 against Montana State Billings.

2010 GREAT NORTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Seattle Pacific (6 first-place votes), 62 points
2. Western Washington (1 first-place vote), 56 points
3. Saint Martin's, 43 points
4. CENTRAL WASHINGTON (1 first-place vote), 34 points
4. Simon Fraser, 34 points
6. Montana State Billings, 30 points
7. Western Oregon, 20 points
8. Northwest Nazarene, 10 points