University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Picked Sixth in Big Ten Preseason Poll
8/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The University of Minnesota women's soccer team has been selected to finish sixth in the Big Ten Conference this season in a preseason poll by the conference's head coaches. Penn State was named the preseason favorite to win the Big Ten, according to a conference announcement released on Tuesday.
The Golden Gophers finished tied for fourth in the Big Ten in 2009 after recording a 12-5-3 overall record and a 5-3-2 conference mark. This season, the Gophers return all 11 starters from 2009 as the team looks to capture its second Big Ten championship in three years. The Gophers open the 2010 campaign on Friday, Aug 20 at Notre Dame.
After winning its 12th Big Ten Championship in as many years in 2009, Penn State has been named the preseason favorite for the 2010 season by the conference's head coaches, the Big Ten office announced on Tuesday. Selected as favorites for the eighth consecutive season, the Nittany Lions are followed by Ohio State at No. 2 and Wisconsin at
No. 3.
Penn State enters the 2010 season seeking its 13th straight Big Ten title and 16th straight NCAA Tournament appearance after finishing 13-6-2 overall and 8-1-1 in conference play in 2009. PSU also boasts a No. 13 ranking in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason poll heading into the season.
After racking up a 14-4-2 overall record and a 7-2-1 mark in Big Ten play last season, Ohio State enters 2010 at No. 2 in the coaches' poll. OSU is receiving votes in the first NSCAA poll of the season.
Wisconsin enters the 2010 season ranked third in the coaches' poll after reaching the Round of 16 in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. The Badgers return 10 starters from a team that finished 10-6-6 overall and 5-1-4 in the Big Ten, good for a third-place finish. Wisconsin also checks in at No. 20 in the NSCAA preseason poll.
Michigan State and Purdue round out the poll's top five. Complete results of the 2010 Big Ten preseason coaches' poll can be found below.
Additionally, the Big Ten has announced a "Players to Watch" list for the first time, highlighting three student-athletes from each team entering the 2010 season. The complete list can be found below.
The 2010 Big Ten women's soccer season kicks off this Friday, August 20, with 10 of the conference's 11 teams beginning play.
2010 Big Ten Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Penn State
2. Ohio State
3. Wisconsin
4. Michigan State
5. Purdue
6. Minnesota
7. Illinois
8. Michigan
9. Indiana
10. Northwestern
11. Iowa
Big Ten Players to Watch
Name | School | Yr. | Position | Hometown |
Julie Ewing | Illinois | Jr. | Defender | Batavia, Ill. |
Jordan Hilbrands | Illinois | Sr. | Forward | Bexley, Ohio |
Danielle Kot | Illinois | Sr. | Defender | Brookfield, Wis. |
Devon Beach | Indiana | Jr. | Midfielder | Sarnia, Ontario |
Lisa Nouanesengsy | Indiana | Fr. | Midfielder | Huber Heights, Ohio |
Orianica Velasquez | Indiana | So. | Forward | Bogota, Colombia |
Jenna Aleo | Iowa | Sr. | Defender | Tinley Park, Ill. |
Keli McLaughlin | Iowa | Sr. | Forward | Alsip, Ill. |
Morgan Showalter | Iowa | Jr. | Midfielder/Forward | Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
Jackie Carron | Michigan | Sr. | Defender/Midfielder | Rochester Hills, Mich. |
Nkem Ezurike | Michigan | Fr. | Forward | Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia |
Clare Stachel | Michigan | So. | Forward | Grand Rapids, Mich. |
Jill Flietstra | Michigan State | Jr. | Goalkeeper | Hudsonville, Mich. |
Cara Freeman | Michigan State | Sr. | Forward | New Lenox, Ill. |
Laura Heyboer | Michigan State | Jr. | Forward | Hudsonville, Mich. |
Minnesota | Sr. | Forward/Midfielder | Eau Claire, Wis. | |
Minnesota | Sr. | Defender | Norwalk, Iowa | |
Minnesota | Sr. | Forward/Midfielder | Cambridge, Minn. | |
Jennifer Baumann | Northwestern | Sr. | Midfielder | Waukesha, Wis. |
Jill Dunn | Northwestern | Jr. | Midfielder | Naperville, Ill. |
Briana Westlund | Northwestern | So. | Defender | Cottage Grove, Minn. |
Tiffany Cameron | Ohio State | So. | Forward | Mississauga, Ontario |
Cassie Dickerson | Ohio State | Sr. | Defender | Kalamazoo, Mich. |
Lauren Steuer | Ohio State | Sr. | Defender/Midfielder | Cincinnati, Ohio |
Lexi Marton | Penn State | So. | Defender | Aurora, Ontario |
Christine Nairn | Penn State | So. | Midfielder | Arnold, Md. |
Danielle Toney | Penn State | Sr. | Forward | Northville, Mich. |
Carianne Betts | Purdue | Sr. | Goalkeeper | Parma, Ohio |
Lauren Montenegro | Purdue | Jr. | Midfielder | Diamond Bar, Calif. |
Liz Secue | Purdue | Sr. | Defender | Bath, Ohio |
Erin Jacobsen | Wisconsin | Jr. | Midfielder | Wheaton, Ill. |
Alev Kelter | Wisconsin | So. | Midfielder | Eagle River, Alaska |
Laurie Nosbusch | Wisconsin | Jr. | Forward | Mequon, Wis. |
