Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
GRINNELL, Iowa – Entering the 2022 campaign, Lake Forest College was selected to finish as the top team in the Midwest Conference (MWC) women’s soccer preseason coaches’ poll.
 
Following a vote by the league’s head coaches, the Foresters garnered six first-place votes and 55 points to best the field of teams. Lake Forest last won the MWC regular season title in 2015 and finished last season as a runner-up to the league title.
 
The defending tournament champion Beloit College Buccaneers earned 50 points and two first-place votes for a second-place finish, ahead of the defending regular-season champion Knox College Prairie Fire who landed third place with 44 points. 
 
One-point separated fourth through sixth place as Lawrence University picked up 33 points, followed by Monmouth College with 32 points and Grinnell College with 31 points.
 
Cornell College was picked seventh with 23 points, trailed by Illinois College (12) and Ripon College (8) to round out the poll.
 
All nine teams will open the regular season with on Thursday, September 1, with a full slate of non-conference matches. MWC action begins Saturday, September 24.
 
The MWC Women’s Soccer Tournament is scheduled for November 4-5, 2022. The number one seed at the conclusion of the season will host the four-team event, and the winner will move on to the NCAA Tournament field.
 
Full preseason coaches’ poll results and quick facts for all nine league teams can be found below: 
 
2022 MWC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results 
1. Lake Forest College (6) – 55 points
2. Beloit College (2) – 50 points
3. Knox College – 44 points
4. Lawrence University – 33 points
5. Monmouth College – 32 points
6. Grinnell College – 31 points
7. Cornell College – 23 points
8. Illinois College – 12 points
9. Ripon College – 8 points
 
() – indicates first-place votes 
*Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams. 
 
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Lisa Collogan (1^st Season)
2021: 11-7-1 (overall), 4-1-3 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Natalie Ortiz (Jr), Lauryn Volza (So)

Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Jose Fajardo (7^th Season)
2021: 7-11-1 (overall), 2-5-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Sanne Croes (Sr), Sam O’Brien (Fifth Year)
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Kirsten Koester (9^th Season)
2021: 3-12-2 (overall), 2-4-2 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Giada Bambi (So)

Illinois College Lady Blues
Head Coach: Hunter Gray (3^rd Season)
2021: 3-14 (overall), 1-7 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Haley Sommer (Jr)
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Robert Battisson (1^st Season)
2021: 11-7-1 (overall), 8-0 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: TR Bell (26^th Season)
2021: 9-7-1 (overall), 6-1-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Maggie Kersting (Sr - MWC Defensive Player of the Year), Alexa Kotsovos (Sr), Krissy Kuwahara (So), Alyssa Xanos (Sr)
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Joe Sagar (5^th Season)
2021: 11-7-1 (overall), 5-3 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Monmouth College Scots
Head Coach: Lucas Henderson (2^nd Season)
2021: 5-11-1 (overall), 4-3-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Madison Walker (So – MWC Newcomer of the Year)
 
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Jennifer Dimos (1^st Season)
2021: 0-17-1 (overall), 0-8 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A