Six-time UMAC champion St. Scholastica predicted to claim women's soccer title again in 2008
ST. PAUL (Aug. 28, 2008) – 2007 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) champion and NCAA tournament participant, the College of St. Scholastica was voted as the unanimous favorite to repeat as conference champions in the preseason coaches poll. The Saints, who have won the last four league titles, received 49 points in the poll. St. Scholastica returns four UMAC All-Conference selections from 2007, but will be without last year’s conference Player of the Year in Shannon Kresky, who graduated in May.
The University of Minnesota-Morris edged Northwestern College for second place in the preseason poll, scoring 40 points. The Cougars, who went 12-2 in UMAC play last season, return five starters, including sophomore Nina Jarnot (Sartell, Minn.). The standout forward recorded 12 goals and 30 points in 2007.
Northwestern, who received 39 points in the poll for third place, has nine starters returning. No player on the Eagles’ squad will be watched more than sophomore all-conference player Kyrie Joregenson (Decorah, Iowa), who led the UMAC in scoring last year with 20 goals.
Rounding out the league’s predicted top four teams is Crown College, who received 29 points. Crown returns seven if its starters from 2007, including first team all-conference forward Stephanie Lally (Princeton Junction, N.J.), who tallied 16 points last year.
Northland College netted 24 points, which was good for fifth place in the preseason poll. The Lumberjills look forward to watching junior forward Sarah Strobino, who received first team all-conference honors after a 14-goal season in 2007. Northland’s ship has a new captain this year, as former assistant coach and two-time UMAC all-conference player Ashley Bingaman Grant will assume the team’s head coaching duties.
Bethany Lutheran College was picked to finish sixth in the conference, earning 22 points. The Vikings have nine starters returning from 2007 after a fifth-place finish. Defender and first team all-conference selection Leah Fehr (N. Sioux City, S.D.) returns to the pitch to lead Bethany Lutheran in 2008.
Finishing seventh and eighth, respectively, in the preseason coaches poll was Martin Luther College (14 points) and Presentation College (seven points). Martin Luther ended their 2007 season in sixth place, while Presentation came in eighth.
1. College of St. Scholastica – 49 points (7 FPV)
2. University of Minnesota-Morris – 40 points
3. Northwestern College – 39 points (1)
4. Crown College – 29 points
5. Northland College – 24 points
6. Bethany Lutheran College – 22 points
7. Martin Luther College – 14 points
8. Presentation College – 7 points