KANSAS CITY, MO – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced its Preseason Coaches’ Poll for the 2023 women’s soccer season.
Central Missouri, the defending MIAA champion, was picked to finish at the top of the league again. UCM has won 13 of the last 15 regular season titles including the last three. The Jennies tallied 119 points and the majority first place votes. Last season, UCM went 9-1-1 against MIAA opponents and finished 19-2-2 overall.
UNK tallied 22 points to come in ahead of Newman and rank just behind Missouri Southern. Second-year head coach Rob Breton has a 2023 roster that features 18 returners and eight newcomers. The returning All-MIAA honorees are Cammie Davis (Wichita, Kan.), Raegan Downham (Cheyenne, Wyo.), Lily Engeman (Olathe, Kan.) and Dolcie Hanlon (Fruita, Colo.) with Katie Pagel (North Dakota State), Ivana Siles (Cochise College, Ariz.) and Rachel Warrick (Drake) the newcomers with previous collegiate experience. Emporia State was tabbed second with 109 points and two first place selections. The Hornets finished second in the league last season with a record of 7-1-3. In post season play, E-State defeated UCM, 1-0, in the 2022 NCAA Central Region Semifinals to advance to the regional championship match where they suffered a loss in a penalty kick shootout to Bemidji (Minn.) State.
UNK begins fall camp on Monday, Aug. 14. The Lopers will work out twice daily (9:30-11 a.m. & 5:30-7 p.m.) before school begins on Aug. 21. The team hosts Hastings (Aug. 20; 3 p.m.) and Augustana (Aug. 26; 12 p.m.) in home exhibition scrimmages before the regular season starts on Sept. 2 in Oklahoma.
2023 MIAA Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Central Missouri (9) – 119 points
2. Emporia State (2) – 109 points
3. Northwest Missouri State (1) – 103 points
4. Fort Hays State – 87 points
5. Central Oklahoma – 85 points
6. Washburn – 66 points
7. Northeastern State – 60 points
8. Missouri Western State – 51 points
9. Rogers State – 40 points
10. Missouri Southern State – 25 points
11. Nebraska Kearney – 22 points
12. Newman – 18 points
