SAN MATEO, Calif. -- Portland Pilots striker Taryn Ries was selected to the 2021 All-WCC Women's Soccer Preseason Team while the Pilots were picked to finish fifth in the conference in the annual WCC Preseason Coaches Poll. It is the second-straight year the Pilots have been picked to finish fifth. 

The selection for Ries marks the third time in her career that she has made the preseason squad. Ries had a stellar season in a COVID-shortened year, finishing with five goals and making the All-WCC First Team. She put together a hat trick against Oregon State in the season opener and another two goals against the Pacific Tigers. 

Portland received 49 points in the coaches poll, ranking just behind Santa Clara, BYU, Pepperdine and Gonzaga. The defending national champions, the Santa Clara Broncos, were picked to finish first in the conference, receiving 80 points in the coaches balloting and eight first-place votes. The Broncos are ranked second in the nation in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll. BYU is ranked 15th in the nation and finished second in the coaches ballot with 74 points and two first-place votes. Pepperdine and Gonzaga, who both either ranked in the top-25 or received votes most of last season, finished third and fourth respectively. 

The Pilots bring back all but four players from the 2020-21 roster for the upcoming season. Last spring, the Pilots finished 3-4-3 and had five players earn All-WCC honors. They will play an exhibition match against Bellevue College on Aug. 13 before starting their regular season against the Utah Utes on the road. The match against the Utes will take place on Thursday, Aug. 19. 

2021 WCC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll (FALL)