By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Washburn University, the defending Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association regular-season champion, has been picked to finish at the top of the league again this season in the 2024 MIAA Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll, which was released Friday.
The Ichabods totaled 137 points and nine first-place votes to secure the top spot after advancing all the way to the NCAA Division II National Championship match in Matthews, North Carolina last season before suffering a 1-0 loss to Point Loma Nazarene University. The defending national runnersup ended the season with an overall record of 21-4-1 and clinched the 2023 MIAA regular-season title with a league record of 9-1-1. It was the Ichabods' first MIAA championship crown since 2006. After three consecutive regular-season titles, the Jennies finished second in the league last season with an MIAA record of 8-1-2. Central Missouri finished 16-5-2 overall last season, concluding the year in the second round of the NCAA tournament with a 3-2 overtime loss to Washburn. Following the Griffons were Central Oklahoma at No. 7 with 82 points, Northeastern State No. 8 with 77 points, Rogers State No. 9 with 58 points and Nebraska-Kearney No. 10 with 46 points. In Pittsburg State’s inaugural season, the Gorillas were selected 11th with 39 points, followed by Newman and Missouri Southern. The 2024 MIAA women’s soccer season officially kicks off Thursday, Sept. 5. The MIAA Women’s Soccer Championship is scheduled to begin Sunday, Nov. 10 with the top four seeds hosting quarterfinal matches. The four remaining seeds will travel to Wichita for the championship’s final matches set for November 14 and 16 at the Stryker Sports Complex. 2024 MIAA WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL |