Women's Soccer Picked Ninth in HCAC Preseason Poll
DEFIANCE, OHIO – The Defiance College women's soccer team was selected to finish ninth in the 10 team Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference coaches' poll announced Thursday afternoon.
DEFIANCE, OHIO – The Defiance College women's soccer team was selected to finish ninth in the 10 team Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference coaches' poll announced Thursday afternoon.
2017 HCAC runner-up Mount St. Joseph secured the top ranking with 84 points and four first place votes. Defending HCAC champion, Franklin, followed in second with 81 points and three first place votes. Hanover landed third on the list with 77 points and two first place votes. Transylvania rounded out the top four with 64 points. Anderson and Rose-Hulman find themselves tied for fifth place with 60 points, while the Ravens also earned one first place vote.
Defiance returns 12 members that saw playing time during the 2017 season. Among the returning Yellow Jackets is experienced goalkeeper Madi Bowman. The junior tallied 1,165 minutes in frame for the Purple and Gold with 127 saves, landing her second in the HCAC last season.
The Yellow Jackets will open the 2018 season on Aug. 31 against Wilmington during the opening round of the annual Purple and Gold Tournament.
| Finish | Team | Votes | 2017 Record |
| 1. | Mount St. Joseph | 84 (4) | 17-4 (7-2) |
| 2. | Franklin | 81 (3) | 14-5 (8-1) |
| 3. | Hanover | 77 (2) | 12-5-1 (6-2-1) |
| 4. | Transylvania | 64 | 6-9-3 (4-4-1) |
| 5. | Anderson | 60 (1) | 10-4-3 (5-2-2) |
| Rose-Hulman | 60 | 7-9-2 (4-3-2) | |
| 7. | Earlham | 43 | 7-10-1 (3-5-1) |
| 8. | Manchester | 32 | 1-15-1 (1-7-1) |
| 9. | Defiance | 25 | 1-13-2 (0-7-2) |
| 10. | Bluffton | 24 | 3-14 (2-7) |