WSU soccer ranked 21st

The Washington State Cougars are ranked 21st in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America women’s preseason poll released Tuesday.

It is the second straight year the Cougars will begin play as a ranked team and the third time in school history they have been ranked in the preseason. WSU was ranked No. 20 in 1995 and 21st last season.

The Cougs are coming off a 14-6-2 season, that included a win over Villanova in the first round of the NCAA tourney.

WSU opens its season against No. 6 Florida State in Pullman on Aug. 20.

• Puget Sound was a unanimous pick to win its ninth consecutive Northwest Conference championship in a preseason poll of conference soccer coaches.

Puget Sound garnered all nine first-place votes for a maximum 90 points.

The Loggers, who finished 18-2 last season including 15-1 in NWC play, will have to replace Janece Levien – the only four-time offensive player of the year in conference history.

Whitworth (72) was picked second on all nine ballots. Willamette (55) was third.

Golf

Sierra Bezdicek of Colbert is tied for fourth place after shooting a 3-over-par 75 in the opening round of the AJGA Junior tournament at Wenatchee Golf and Country Club.

Bezdicek is four strokes behind leaders Kendall Prince and Leilanie Kim.

Spokane’s Kaitlen Parsons is 16th after carding an 80, while Spokane’s Megan Haase is 25th after an 87.

In the boys division, Spokane’s Peter Gullickson is tied for 23rd at 75 and Spokane’s Evan Dyar is tied for 35th with a 77.

Zak Griffiths of Red Deer, Alberta, is the first-round leader at 66.

• North Idaho College announced that Derrick Thompson has been named head coach for both the men’s and women’s teams.

Thompson, who graduated from Ferndale High School in Washington, has been an assistant pro at Avondale Golf and Tennis Club the past four years.