Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
GRINNELL, Iowa – The Midwest Conference (MWC) announced its preseason coaches’ poll results for the 2023 women’s soccer campaign, with Grinnell College and Lake Forest College sharing the top spot as favorites. Both teams earned 59 points, and the Foresters picked up four first-place votes while the Pioneers claimed three.
 
Last season, Lake Forest finished second in the final standings as Grinnell swept the regular season and tournament titles for the first time since 2006.
 
Each picking up one first-place vote, Beloit College secured third place with 50 points, and Lawrence University landed in fourth with 42 points.
 
Cornell College rounded out the top five with 34 points, ahead of Illinois College (26), Ripon College (21), Monmouth College 19), and Knox College (14).
 
All nine league teams will open the season this weekend with non-conference matches and league play begins the weekend of September 22-23.
 
The four-team MWC Women’s Soccer Tournament is scheduled for November 3-4, 2023. The top seed at the close of regular season play will host and the winner will receive the league’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA postseason.
 
Full preseason coaches’ poll results and quick facts for all nine league teams can be found below: 
 
2023 MWC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results
T1. Lake Forest College (4) – 59 points
T1. Grinnell College (3) – 59 points
3. Beloit College (1) – 50 points
4. Lawrence University (1) – 42 points
5. Cornell College – 34 points
6. Illinois College – 26 points
7. Ripon College – 21 points
8. Monmouth College – 19 points
9. Knox College – 14 points
 
() – indicates first-place votes 
*Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams. 
 
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Lisa Collogan (2^nd Season)
2022: 9-4-3 (overall), 6-2 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Grace Hartwig (Jr), Abbey Scott (Jr), Megan Thompson (Jr)

Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Jose Fajardo (8^th Season)
2022: 4-13-3 (overall), 3-3-2 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Kirsten Koester (10^th Season)
2022: 11-3-5 (overall), 7-0-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Giada Bambi (Jr), Jane March (Sr), Keiko Smith (Jr), Tori Thomas (Jr)

Illinois College Lady Blues
Head Coach: Hunter Gray (4^th Season)
2022: 2-13-2 (overall), 2-5-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Haley Sommer (Sr)
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Annie Gerdes (1^st Season)
2022: 1-11-3 (overall), 1-4-3 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: TR Bell (27^th Season)
2022: 11-5-3 (overall), 7-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Anna Gracia (So – 2022 Newcomer of the Year), Anna Hoffmann (So), Krissy Kuwahara (Jr), Caitlin Mulcahy (So)
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Joe Sagar (6^th Season)
2022: 8-9-1 (overall), 3-4-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Natalie Linebarger (Jr), Cambrie Rickard (Jr - 2022 Offensive Player of the Year)
 
Monmouth College Scots
Head Coach: Lucas Henderson (3^rd Season)
2022: 3-10-3 (overall), 0-5-3 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Avery Parks (So)
 
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Jennifer Dimos (2^nd Season)
2022: 4-11-3 (overall), 1-6-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Cielo Gutierrez (So)