RENO, Nev. University of Nevada senior midfielder Miranda Montejo was named to the Preseason All-WAC Team the WAC announced Monday. As a team, Nevada was picked by the league’s coaches to finish fifth in the eight-team conference. Hawai`i was picked to finish first with seven first-place votes.
Montejo, a two-time All-WAC second team honoree, is Nevada’s career leader in points with 44. She is second all-time in career goals with 17 and needs just two goals to claim sole possession of first. Montejo served as a team captain in 2007 and has helped lead Nevada to three consecutive WAC Tournament appearances and the programs first WAC Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2006.
She has played in 60 career games for Nevada, making 51 starts. Montejo has recorded 17 career goals and 10 career assists.
As a team, Nevada returns 15 letterwinners and nine starters from last season’s team that made its third consecutive WAC Tournament appearance. In addition to Montejo, Nevada returns: senior Jessica Thompson, Nevada’s all-time leader in assists (15); senior Samantha Miller, who is fourth all-time in career points (36); senior Patrice Godwin, a second-team All-WAC honoree from a year ago; senior Karen Zmirak, who is second in career points (41) and junior Devin Noe, a defender who started every game of her career until she suffered a season-ending knee injury nine games into last season.
Nevada will welcome seven newcomers to this year’s team including Annabelle Allen, who won a US Youth Soccer National Championship with Nike Colorado Rush in July, Ellie Stott a native of East Gosford, New South Wales, Australia who led her 2007 team to the best record in school history and Natalie Ratnavira who led Fallbrook HS (Calif.) to three Avocado League Championships.
Nevada opens the 2008 season on Friday, August 22 hosting UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. at Mackay Stadium. For ticket information call 775-348-PACK (7225).
2008 Coaches’ Poll
Team (1st place votes) Points
1. Hawai’i (7) 49
2. Fresno State (1) 40
3. Utah State 37
4. Boise State 30
5. Nevada 28
6. San Jose State 18
7. Idaho 14
8. Louisiana Tech 8
2008 Preseason All-WAC Team
Ambree Ako, F, Hawai’i, Jr.
Randi Baker, MF, Boise State, Sr.
Taryn Fukuroku, F, Hawai’i, Sr.
Selena Gill, D, Fresno State, Sr.
Tehane Higa, D, Hawai’i, Sr.
Kory Lu, GK, Hawai’i, Sr.
Nicole Mikula, D, Hawai’i, So.
Miranda Montejo, MF, Nevada, Sr.
Shannon Saxton, F, Boise State, So.
Alison Sill, MF, Fresno State, Sr.
Lindsey Smart, D, Utah State, Jr.
Preseason Players of the Year
Offensive: Ambree Ako, F, Hawai’i, Jr.
Co-Defensive: Lindsey Smart, D, Utah State, Jr. and Tehane Higa, D, Hawai’i, Sr.
