The Bulawayo, Zimbabwe native has started 54 matches in his three seasons in a WKU uniform. Over that span, he has netted 17 goals — including 15 in the past two seasons — while posting 11 assists. Mupfudze has earned all-MVC honors every season of his collegiate career, and was a third-team all-Midwest Region pick in 2003.
In addition to the preseason team, the Valley also released its preseason coaches poll. The Hilltoppers (5-11-1 overall, 1-7-1 MVC in 2004) were picked to finish seventh. Creighton earned seven of the eight first-place votes as the coaches’ pick to win the league, while Bradley earned the other first-place vote and finished second in the poll.
The Hilltoppers return 15 letterwinners and nine starters from last year’s club and will begin preseason workouts next week. WKU will take the field in a pair of exhibition matches, including a home date with Northern Kentucky on Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. (CDT) at the WKU Soccer. Western opens the 2005 regular season on the road at the Northwestern Invitational, then returns home Sept. 9 and 11 to host its own four-team event with Longwood, Cal Poly and Eastern Illinois coming to town.
