Game Notes
 
CANYON, Texas-- The Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M face off against No. 14 Emporia State University to start the 2022 season on Friday. It's the first time the Lady Buffs and Hornets have met in women's soccer as WT looks to win back-to-back season openers for the first time since 2011. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at The Pitch.
 
2021 Recap...
WT finished the 2021 season with an overall record of 14-6 and 9-4 in the Lone Star Conference. The Lady Buffs finished fourth in the regular-season standings, earning a trip to the conference tournament where they fell to top seeded DBU, 3-1, in the semifinal round.
 
LSC Preseason Poll
Reigning Lone Star Conference champion Dallas Baptist sat atop the rankings, collecting 24 of 35 first-place votes for 434 points, followed by Angelo State (10 fpv, 388 points). The Lady Buffs followed just behind the Rambelles with one first-place vote and 368 points. Midwestern State, collecting 363 points, and Texas Woman's (323) finished out the top five teams.
 
St. Mary's (274) sat sixth in the poll followed by St. Edward's (251), Lubbock Christian (212), UT Tyler (171), Oklahoma Christian (163), and Texas A&M International (117). UT Permian Basin (77) and Eastern New Mexico (44) rounded out the rankings.
 
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Asha James is coming off a season where she scored 14 goals and registered three assists, the most points among returning Lone Star Conference players. James headlines a WT roster that returns 17 players from the 2021 roster.
 
A Look ahead...
The Lady Buffs face a quick turnaround before hitting the road for their first road trip of the season. WT travels to Alamosa, Colorado to take on Adams State on Sunday, August 26 at 2 p.m. Central Time.