2023 NSIC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll Release

            Wayne State was tied for 11^th in the 2023 NSIC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll released Monday morning by the league office in Burnsville, Minnesota.  Junior midfielder Annika Syvrud (seev-rood) and senior goalkeeper Hayden Wallace were listed as Wildcat Players to Watch in the NSIC this season.
            Wayne State finished 12^th in the NSIC last season with records of 3-11-4 overall and 3-9-3 in league play and collected 59 points in voting by league coaches.
            Defending NSIC regular season champion Minnesota State was voted the to beat this season with eight first-place votes and 187 points followed by Augustana with 177 points and four first-place votes.  Defending NSIC tournament champion Bemidji State was third at 170 points and two first-place tallies while Concordia-St. Paul was fourth with 147 points and the final first-place vote.
            University of Mary edged Minot State (134-133) for fifth place with Northern State seventh at 119 points.  St. Cloud State (104), Minnesota Duluth (103) and Winona State (82) closed out the top 10 while WSC and Southwest Minnesota State tied for 11^th with 59 points each.
            Syvrud, a 5-10 junior midfielder from Rock Springs, Wyoming (Rock Springs HS) is Wayne State's Offensive Player to Watch this season.  She had three goals last season and tied for the team lead in shots on goal (14) while ranking third on the team in shots (19). 
            Wallace, a senior goalkeeper from Glendale, Arizona (Grand Canyon Univ.), tied for seventh in the NSIC last season with a .824 save percentage.  She recorded a 3-7-3 record with a 1.48 goals against average last year, accounting for one shutout and one combined shutout in net for the 'Cats.           
            Wayne State opens the 2023 season on Thursday, August 31 hosting a non-conference game vs. Minnesota Crookston starting at 2 p.m. at the WSC Soccer Pitch.
 
2023 Preseason NSIC Women's Soccer Coaches Poll
1.         Minnesota State (8)                   187 pts.
2.         Augustana (4)                           177 pts.
3.         Bemidji State (2)                       170 pts.
4.         Concordia-St. Paul (1)               147 pts.
5.         University of Mary                     134 pts.
6.         Minot State                               133 pts.
7.         Northern State                          119 pts.
8.         St. Cloud State                          104 pts.
9.         Minnesota Duluth                      103 pts.
10.        Winona State                            82 pts.
11.        Southwest Minnesota State        59 pts.
11.        Wayne State                            59 pts.
13.        MSU Moorhead                         45 pts.
14.        Sioux Falls                               38 pts.
15.        Minnesota Crookston                18 pts.
                        first place votes in ( )