DALLAS (July 30) -- Alli Miller was selected as Lone Star Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and Central Oklahoma was picked for a third-place finish in the LSC women's soccer poll that was released here Thursday during the league's annual fall media day.

The Bronchos of 12th-year head coach Mike Cook received three first-place votes and finished with 247 points in balloting of head coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives.

Defending champion West Texas A&M earned the favorite's role after collecting 14 first-place votes and 286 points, followed by Texas A&M-Commerce with 11 first-place nods and 275 points. UCO was third, followed by Midwestern State, Abilene Christian, Angelo State, Northeastern State, Texas Woman's, Eastern New Mexico, East Central and Southwestern Oklahoma.

Miller, a senior fullback from Norman, was the easy choice as the top defender. A three-time first-team All-LSC pick, she was the league's Defensive Player of the Year as well as an All-South Central Regional performer last season.

UCO returns eight starters and five other letterwinners from last year's 13-6-3 team that finished fourth in the conference in having its three-year string of league titles ended. The Bronchos begin preseason workouts Aug. 10 and open the season Aug. 28 against Incarnate Word in Austin, Texas.