FARMINGTON, Utah (August 10, 2023) – Coming off a regular season and Big Sky tournament championship, the Lumberjacks have been selected as the preseason favorites heading into the 2023 season.
The Jacks received four first-place votes in the poll and 54 total points, as voted on by the nine conference head coaches. Receiving three first-place votes and picked second in the poll was NAU's tournament championship opponent, the Idaho Vandals. The Weber State Wildcats also received a first-place vote while picked third, and Portland State received a first-place vote while picked to finish T-seventh.
The Lumberjacks last topped the preseason poll in 2021. NAU jumped three spots from last year's poll where the team was voted to finish fourth overall. With hopes to repeat a regular season and tournament title run, the Jacks will head into the 2023 season under new leadership as head coach
Alan Berrios was officially named the program's head coach after taking over as interim in the record-breaking 2022 season.
With two exhibition matches slated for today, Aug. 10 and Saturday, Aug. 12, the Lumberjacks will officially get underway next week with the regular season beginning on Thursday, Aug. 17 at UTEP followed by a Sunday match at New Mexico.
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2023 Big Sky Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Northern Arizona (4) – 54
- Idaho (3) – 49
- Weber State (1) – 45
- Montana – 40
- Eastern Washington – 35=
- Sacramento State – 34
- T7. Portland State (1) - 28
- T7. Northern Colorado – 28
- 9. Idaho State – 11
() – Indicates Number of First-Place Votes
