Being picked to finish last in the Big 12 is not ideal, but ISU coach Wendy Dillinger and her players are not paying attention to that.

After a 10-10 season in 2012 that ended with three-straight losses, the women’s soccer team was voted last in the Big 12 preseason polls this season and didn’t have a single player voted to the preseason All-Big 12 team. However, the team is keeping its ears closed and focusing on what is in front of it.

“We haven’t really talked much about it this year,” Dillinger said. “We’re more focused on what we’re doing and we know that with what we’re doing right now and the way we’re training, we’re not really concerned about what other people are saying. We are out here every day and are certainly aware of what we’re capable of, so we’re focused more on our capabilities.”

Last season, the soccer team dropped six games by just one goal, four of which came against top-20 opponents. Dillinger said this year’s team has the ability to be on the other end of games that finish with a 2-1 score.

“I think with those one goal swings, we’re good for another two, three goals with this group,” Dillinger said. “I also think our defensive group is going to be that much stronger and more solid and stable this year. We’re not going to be giving up as many looks, so we’re not going to be giving many quality chances to opponents and giving them opportunities to score”

Commanding the defensive group is senior goalie Maddie Jobe. A three-year starter, Jobe recorded 74 saves last season and, in 2011, made school history as she finished with a .79 goal-against average.

Jobe said the team’s success this year will be dependent on its attention to detail, and if that happens, the team’s true potential will break through.

“I honestly think that we are one of the best teams,” Jobe said. “It may not show recordwise and in the end that is ultimately the end product, but we definitely have room for improvement, and I think if we can just put small things together we can beat the teams that we’d lose to 2-1 or 1-0.”

The soccer team will also have to work with a tight home schedule. The team plays seven home games this year, two less than last season. 

The first home game of the season begins 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27, against Western Illinois University.