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No Respect for DePaul Women's Soccer Team
Aug. 10, 2010
CHICAGO - Apparently, DePaul hasn't done enough to earn the respect of the BIG EAST Conference women's soccer coaches. In the preseason coaches' poll released on Tuesday, the Blue Demons were picked to finish sixth in the eight-team National Division. This is the same Blue Demon team that qualified for its first BIG EAST Championship tournament last year and returns 10 of 11 starters. "We haven't established ourselves yet," said DePaul coach Erin Chastain, whose team was fifth in the National Division last season. "Last year we achieved all the goals we set, but I guess it wasn't enough to make an impact this year. "We're trying to build a program at DePaul that will contend every year in the BIG EAST." In the 2009 preseason coaches' poll, the Blue Demons were picked to finish last. "I think that motivated our team," said Chastain as DePaul went 10-9-2 overall for its best record since 2003 in what became known as the turnaround season. "I think this year's poll will serve to motivate us again." NCAA semifinalist and perennial national-title contender Notre Dame was selected to win the National Division. The Fighting Irish won the National Division regular-season title last year. NCAA tournament qualifier Rutgers was picked second followed by Georgetown, NCAA qualifier Villanova, Louisville, DePaul, Cincinnati and Seton Hall. In the American Division, the BIG EAST coaches went with NCAA tournament qualifier Marquette as the favorite. The Golden Eagles won the American Division regular-season title last year. NCAA tournament second-round qualifier West Virginia was picked to finish second followed by NCAA second-rounder Connecticut, USF, St. John's, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Providence. None of the DePaul players were selected for the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team.
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