The Auburn soccer team was picked to finish second in the SEC’s Western Division behind 2007 West Champion LSU in vote of the league’s 12 head coaches, it was announced Thursday.

Auburn returns 17 letter winners and nine starters from the 2007 squad, which finished 10-8-2 (6-5-0 SEC) and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season.

Included in the group of returning starters is preseason All-SEC forward Caitlin King and All-America candidate Allison Whitworth in goal.

Auburn received five first-place votes in the West while LSU garnered the other seven, giving LSU 62 points, compared to Auburn’s 59. Points were compiled on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis for each division, though each coach was not allowed to vote for his or her own team.

Each coach also voted for one team as an overall conference champion, with Florida earning the most votes (seven), Tennessee picking up three votes and Georgia two.

Auburn will play its first game of the 2008 season Aug. 22 at the Auburn Soccer Complex when it plays host to Grambling at 7 p.m. Admission is free.