OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels have been selected to finish fifth in the Sooner Athletic Conference women's soccer preseason poll, the league released yesterday (Aug. 9). The ranking is the highest for the Lady Evangels in the poll since also being tabbed fifth in 2011.

The defending regular season and tournament champion USAO Drovers are picked to repeat this season, followed by John Brown University.  

Next is Oklahoma City University, with Wayland Baptist University and MACU rounding out the top five.

After MACU is Texas Wesleyan University and Southwestern Assemblies of God University in sixth and seventh place, respectively.

St. Gregory's University, Southwestern Christian University and Bacone College conclude the 10-team poll. 

The Lady Evangels, under co-head coaches Zach Bice and Evan Dresel, have captured the past two National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Central Regional titles and have posted winning records in five of the last six seasons.

MACU will begin the regular season on Aug. 27 at McPherson (Kan.) College, while the home opener is set for Sept. 10 against Southwestern (Kan.) College.