Following a season in which it won the Southland Conference regular season title, the Northwestern State soccer team was picked first in the conference preseason poll, the league announced Thursday.

The Demons received seven of the 11 first place votes and 96 total points, selected primarily by the coaches of the conference institutions.

East Texas A&M was picked second with 76 points but did not receive a first-place vote.

Lamar and reigning SLC Tournament champion Houston Christian tied for third, each recording 74 points, with Lamar collecting two first-place votes and HCU collecting one.

Stephen F. Austin grabbed the last first-place point and was picked in fourth, one point ahead of fifth-place Southeastern Louisiana.

NSU returns five starters, including four all-conference selections, as well as many key reserves.

NSU went 13-5-3 a season ago, tied for the second-most victories in a season in program history, including its first ever win over a ranked team with a season-opening upset of No. 19 Texas in Austin.

The Demons are aiming to follow up their conference championship with another, as they start their season with an exhibition at UL Monroe on Aug. 5 and then come back to Natchitoches for a home exhibition Aug. 8. They kick off the regular season with a trip to Oklahoma on Aug. 12.

1. Northwestern State (7), 96 points

2. East Texas A&M, 76 points

T-3.   Lamar (2), 74 points

T-3.  HCU (1), 74 points

5. SFA (1), 66 points

6. Southeastern, 65 points

7. A&M-Corpus Christi, 51 points

8. UIW, 37 points

9. McNeese, 26 points

T-10. Nicholls, 20 points

T-10. UTRGV, 20 points

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