Air Force women’s soccer has its sights set on a top-six finish and a berth in the Mountain West Conference playoffs. It may have to exceed expectations after being picked ninth in the 12-team Mountain West Conference preseason poll.

“Our goal is always to make the postseason tournament and this year we believe it is an attainable goal,” coach Larry Friend said.

The Falcons lost four starters from a 7-10-1 team in 2014, but return their top scorer in sophomore Angela Karamanos (16 points, seven goals) and Nos. 3 and 4 scorers in sophomore Brooke Rittmann and senior Ally Swift (eight points each). The team came tantalizingly close to placing in the top half of the 12-team league.

“These last three years we have been in contention right into the final game,” Friend said. “We have been at rock bottom in our conference and we are headed in a different direction now.

“Angela Karamanos and Kristina O’Sullivan are two players who we will look to for big things out of our midfield.”

The team is shuffling lineups throughout the preseason in preparation for the home opener against Denver on Friday. The game is one of three that count toward the annual Colorado Cup competition including Northern Colorado (Aug. 23) and the league and season finale at home against Colorado College (Oct. 30).