IRVING, Texas (AAC/SMU) – Senior
Wayny Balata and graduate senior
Courtney Sebazco of the SMU women's soccer team were named to the 2022 American Athletic Conference All-Preseason team, league officials announced on Tuesday.
Balata, serving at midfield for the Mustangs, put together a career campaign in her junior season, finding the back of the net six times and adding two assists. Six goals on the season was a team-best, and the fifth-most in the league.
Sebazco proved to be a critical component of the Mustang offense last season, totaling four goals and four assists in 2021. The midfielder opened the fall with a two-goal performance in SMU's 2-0 shutout against eventual Southland Conference champion Northwestern State (8/22), and earned goals against Rice (9/12) and East Carolina (9/23).
Additionally, the conference also released its 2022 Preseason Coaches Poll, with SMU tied to finish third. The Mustangs received 48 points in the poll, behind first-place Memphis (62 points) and second-place South Florida (52 points). Memphis received six of nine first-place votes, with USF, UCF, and Houston each earning one apiece.
The No. 23 Mustangs open their 2022 season at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Washburne Stadium against Rice.
Preseason Coaches Poll
| 1 |
Memphis (6) |
62 |
| 2 |
South Florida (1) |
52 |
| 3 |
SMU |
48 |
|
UCF (1) |
48 |
| 5 |
Cincinnati |
33 |
|
Houston (1) |
33 |
| 7 |
Temple |
20 |
| 8 |
East Carolina |
19 |
| 9 |
Tulsa |
10 |
Offensive Player of the Year
Saorla Miller, Sr., M/F, Memphis
Defensive Player of the Year
Ashley Barron, Sr., D, Cincinnati
Goalkeeper of the Year
Caroline DeLisle, R-Sr., UCF
Preseason All-Conference Team
Caroline DeLisle, R-Sr., GK, UCF
Darya Rajaee, Sr., D, UCF
Kristen Scott, Sr., F, UCF
Ashley Barron, Sr., D, Cincinnati*
Vanessa DiNardo, Gr., F, Cincinnati
Emma Clarke, Sr., D, Houston
Saorla Miller, Sr., M/F, Memphis
Grace Stordy, Jr., M/D, Memphis
Vivianne Bessette, Jr., D, South Florida*
Wayny Balata, Sr., M, SMU
Courtney Sebazco, Gr., M, SMU
Emily Kavanaugh, Sr., F, Temple
* denotes unanimous selection
Women's Soccer Opens 2022 Season Ranked 23rd In United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll
