Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
GRINNELL, Iowa – In the 2024 Midwest Conference (MWC) women’s soccer preseason coaches’ poll, Lake Forest College is projected to defend last season’s regular season title and repeat as MWC women’s soccer champions. The poll is voted on by the league’s nine head coaches who are not allowed to cast votes for their team.  
 
The Foresters claimed the top spot with five first-place votes and 61 points. Last season, Lake Forest swept the regular season and tournament titles, marking the program’s seventh MWC championship and fourth MWC tournament crown.
 
Grinnell College and Lawrence University each picked up a pair of first-place votes to take second and third place, respectively. The Pioneers earned 56 points, while the Vikings tallied 53 points.
 
Illinois College received 38 points to secure fourth place, while Monmouth College landed in fifth with 34 points and Ripon College in sixth with 29 points.
 
The poll rounds out with Beloit College in seventh with 27 points, ahead of Cornell College and Knox College tied for eighth with 13 points each.
 
The 2024 season opens on Friday, August 30, with seven teams in non-conference action, and MWC play kicks off Saturday, September 28.
 
The 2024 MWC Women’s Soccer Tournament is scheduled for November 8-9, 2024. The league’s top four teams in the final standings will meet on the campus of the top seed and compete for the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Full preseason coaches’ poll results and quick facts for all nine league teams can be found below:
 
2024 MWC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results
1. Lake Forest College (5) – 61 points
2. Grinnell College (2) – 56 points
3. Lawrence University (2) – 53 points
4. Illinois College – 38 points
5. Monmouth College – 34 points
6. Ripon College – 29 points
7. Beloit College – 27 points
T8. Cornell College – 13 points
T8. Knox College – 13 points
 
() – indicates first-place votes 
*Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams. 

Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: John Baillie (1^st Season)
2023: 5-9-5 (overall), 4-1-3 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Kaitlyn Hudetz (Sr); Megan Thompson (Sr)

Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Sarah Campbell (1^st Season)
2023: 1-10-3 (overall), 1-7 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: None
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Kirsten Koester (11^th Season)
2023: 10-4-5 (overall), 5-0-3 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Giada Bambi, Forward (Sr); Maddie Beltramo, Forward (Sr); Petyon Dixon, Goalkeeper (So); Sarah Travis, Forward (So)

Illinois College Lady Blues
Head Coach: Hunter Gray (5^th Season)
2023: 7-9-2 (overall), 2-4-2 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: None
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Annie Gerdes (2^nd Season)
2023: 0-15-1 (overall), 0-7-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: None
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: TR Bell (28^th Season)
2023: 11-4-5 (overall), 7-0-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Izzy DeStefano, Midfielder (Jr – 2023 MWC Offensive Player of the Year & MWC Newcomer of the Year); Anna Gracia, Forward (Jr); Lola Halsband, Defender (So); Anna Hoffman, Midfielder (Jr); Caitlyn Mulcahy, Midfielder (Jr – 2023 MWC Defensive Player of the Year); Theresa Presberg, Midfielder (Sr)
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Joe Sagar (7^th Season)
2023: 6-6-4 (overall), 5-1-2 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Maya Alberts, Defender (Sr); Hannah Kalt, Forward (So); Natalie Linebarger, Midfielder (Sr); Cambrie Rickard, Forward (Sr); Emma Vasconez, Midfielder (Sr)
 
Monmouth College Scots
Head Coach: Lucas Henderson (4^th Season)
2023: 5-8-3 (overall), 3-4-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Danielle Beach, Forward (So); Avery Parks, Defender (Jr)
 
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Jennifer Dimos (3^rd Season)
2023: 8-6-3 (overall), 2-5-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Andreanna Wilke, Goalkeeper (Sr)