[PAC-12: Women] UCLA was the preseason favorite to win the 2013 regular season Pac-12 title ahead of four-time defending conference champion Stanford.
The Bruins, the 2012 Pac-12 runner-ups, collected 117 points and seven of 11 possible first-place votes to finish ahead of Stanford 115 points and the remainder of the first-place votes. For thesecond straight year, California was picked to finish third.
UCLA lost 2012 Pac-12 Player of the Year Zakiya Bywaters, the No. 1 pick in the NWSL draft, to graduation.
The Cardinal will be led by senior goalkeeper and two-time all-conference selection Emily Oliver and an attack that will enjoy the addition ofMinnesota transfer Taylor Uhl. The Bears return last season’s Pac-12 Freshmen of the Year, Ifeoma Onumonu.
Pac-12 Preseason Poll:
1. UCLA (7) 117
2. Stanford (5) 115
3. California 99
4. Washington 77
5. ArizonaState 74
6. Oregon State 70
6. Washington State 70
8. USC 65
9. Utah 37
10. Colorado 27
11. Oregon 21
12. Arizona 15