SAN BRUNO, Calif. – The University of San Francisco women's cross country team has been picked to finish in a tie for first with BYU for the 2018 season as announced by the West Coast Conference on Tuesday.
 
USF took home five first place votes and 77 total points, they tied BYU who also garnered five first place votes and 77 total points in the poll decided by the coaches of the West Coast Conference.
 
Last year, the Dons were picked to finish second but went on capture the WCC crown en route to a West Region Championship second place finish at the NCAA Championships.
 
Portland was picked to finish third with 62 points, followed by Loyola Marymount with 58 points, Gonzaga in fifth with 47 points, San Diego in sixth with 42 points.  Pacific and Saint Mary's tied for seventh with 27 points, followed by Santa Clara with 24 points and Pepperdine with nine points.
 
Redshirt senior Lizzie Bird and senior Tatjana Schulte were named to the 2018 All-WCC Women's Cross Country Preseason Team.
 
The Dons begin their 2018 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 1 when the Dons host the 26^th USF Cross Country Invitational at Golden Gate Park.