SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The Portland Pilots were picked to finish second in the annual WCC Preseason Coaches Poll and had three players named to the 2023 All-WCC Preseason Team: Bre Norris, Nedya Sawan and Cally Togiai.

This is the highest the Pilots have been picked to finish in the conference since 2014. Their three players on the preseason team are also the most since that same year.

Norris makes the preseason team for the first time after an incredible 2022 campaign. Norris started 20 games in goal for Portland and posted 90 saves with 11 shutouts and just 16 goals allowed for a goals-allowed average of 0.82. An All-WCC Second Team and All-West Region Second Team selection, she led the conference in minutes played (1,759:37), save percentage (.849) and shutouts (11) and was also fourth in saves per game (4.50) and third in total saves (90). Norris's season ranked among the best in school history, with her season saves total and saves per game average ranking third all-time. For career saves, she's already seventh with 154 over two years.

Sawan enters this year after totaling 12 points with five goals and two assists across 20 matches (13 starts). That total was tied for the second most on the Pilots. Sawan was fourth in the WCC in shots per game at 3.5 and fifth in shots on goal per game at 1.45. Back in 2021, Sawan made the All-WCC first team after scoring 12 goals with two assists for 26 points total.

Togiai played in all 21 matches for the Pilots with 19 starts last year, leading the team with 16 points off six goals and four assists. She was the first Pilot since Taryn Ries in 2018 to post at least five goals and four assists in a season, and her four game-winning goals ranked second in the WCC. She was an All-WCC Second Team selection last year.

The Pilots were picked to finish behind the Santa Clara Broncos, the reigning WCC champions from last year who totaled 64 points and eight first-place votes to claim the top spot. Portland had 51 points followed closely by the Pepperdine Waves, who received 50 points total and one first-place vote. The Gonzaga Bulldogs follow closely behind at 48 points for fourth while the Saint Mary's Gaels are fifth with 32. San Francisco, Pacific, LMU and San Diego round out the bottom four teams.

Portland had a resurgent 2022 campaign, finishing 12-5-4 and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013. The Pilots advanced to the second round of the tournament as well with their biggest playoff win – a 3-0 rout of Arizona State – since 2010.

The regular season begins this week for women's soccer, with the Pilots traveling to Southern California to take on the CSUN Matadors on Aug. 17. Kickoff for the match is set for 7 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options.

2023 WCC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (first-place votes) points
Santa Clara (8) 64
Portland 51
Pepperdine (1) 50
Gonzaga 48
Saint Mary's 32
San Francisco 30
Pacific 24
LMU 17
San Diego 8
 
2023 WCC Women's Soccer Preseason Team
Colby Barnett – SCU
Lindsey Chau – USF
Willow Collins – GON
Annie Karich – SCU
Sally Menti – SCU
Bre Norris – POR
Kelsey Oyler – GON
Tessa Salvestrin – SMC
Nedya Sawan – POR
Cally Togiai – POR
Marissa Vasquez, USF
Tori Waldeck – PEP
Tatum Wynalda – PEP

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