Wayne State was picked to finish 10th in the 2022 NSIC Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll released Thursday morning by the league office in Burnsville, Minnesota.  Senior defender Chloe Schlines (shh – linz) and junior forward/midfielder Morgan Rhodes were tabbed as Wildcats to Watch in the NSIC this season.
            Wayne State collected 95 points in voting conducted by league coaches.  The 'Cats were ninth in the NSIC last season with records of 6-8-4 overall and 6-6-3 in NSIC games.
            Minnesota State edged Bemidji State as the team to beat in the NSIC this season with the Mavericks receiving 217 points and eight first-place votes followed by Bemidji State at 210 points and five first-place ballots.  Augustana came in third place with 199 points and the remaining three first-place votes.  Concordia-St. Paul (178) and University of Mary (159) filled out the top five teams.
            Minot State was sixth at 146 points, one more than seventh place St. Cloud State.  Northern State was eighth at 141 points with Winona State (101) and Wayne State (95) closing out the top 10 teams.
            Rounding out the coaches' poll were Minnesota Duluth (89), Sioux Falls (67), Southwest Minnesota State (63), Upper Iowa (61), MSU Moorhead (30) and Minnesota Crookston (19).
            Schlines, a 5-9 senior defender from Council Bluffs, Iowa (Lewis Central HS), earned All-NSIC Second Team honors for the 'Cats last season anchoring a WSC defense that posted five shutouts.  She led Wayne State last season in minutes played with 1,629 and produced one goal.
            Rhodes, a 5-2 junior forward/midfielder from Omaha (Millard West HS), is the top returner in shots from last season with 22 (nine on goal) and was fifth on the team in minutes played (1271) despite missing one game due to injury.
            Wayne State opens the 2022 season at home on Friday, August 26th hosting Northwest Missouri State at 3 p.m.
 
2022 Preseason NSIC Women's Soccer Coaches Poll
1.         Minnesota State (8)                   217 pts.
2.         Bemidji State (5)                        210 pts.
3.         Augustana (3)                            199 pts.
4.         Concordia-St. Paul                    178 pts.
5.         University of Mary                     159 pts.
6.         Minot State                               146 pts.
7.         St. Cloud State                         145 pts.
8.         Northern State                          141 pts.
9.         Winona State                            101 pts.
10.        Wayne State                           95 pts.
11.        Minnesota Duluth                      89 pts.
12.        Sioux Falls                               67 pts.
13.        Southwest Minnesota State        63 pts.
14.        Upper Iowa                               61 pts.
15.        MSU Moorhead                         30 pts.
16.        Minnesota Crookston                19 pts.
                        first place votes in ( )