Contact: Brock Reisler, Assistant Executive Director, breisler@midwestconference.org
OSHKOSH, Wisconsin – In a tightly contested vote, Lake Forest College was picked to win the 2025 Midwest Conference women’s soccer title as the Midwest Conference Preseason Coaches Poll was released on Tuesday morning. 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 earned a share of the regular season crown, marking the program’s eighth MWC championship, while co-champions Lawrence University (second-place, 60 points) took home the hardware for the first time since 2000. The Vikings went on to win the MWC Tournament and make their first visit to the NCAA Tournament since 2010.
Also projected to make the Midwest Conference Tournament were Grinnell College and Illinois College, as the Pioneers and Lady Blues finished third and fourth with 50 and 36 points, respectively.
The bottom half of the poll included Ripon College (30 points), Beloit College (28 points), Monmouth College (28 points), Knox College (16 points) and Cornell College (15 points).
The 2025 season opens on Friday, August 29, with seven teams in non-conference action, and MWC play kicks off Saturday, September 27.
The 2025 MWC Women’s Soccer Tournament is scheduled for November 7-8, 2025. 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:
2025 MWC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results
1. Lake Forest College (5) - 61 points
2. Lawrence University (4) - 60 points
3. Grinnell College - 50 points
4. Illinois College - 36 points
5. Ripon College - 30 points
T6. Beloit College - 28 points
T6. Monmouth College - 28 points
8. Knox College - 16 points
9. Cornell College - 15 points
() – indicates first-place votes
*Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: John Baillie (2nd Season)
2024: 5-11-3 (overall), 4-3-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: None
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Sarah Campbell (2nd Season)
2024: 2-13-1 (overall), 1-6-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: None
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Kirsten Koester (12th Season)
2024: 8-6-3 (overall), 5-2-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: None
Illinois College Lady Blues
Head Coach: Hunter Gray (6th Season)
2024: 10-6-3 (overall), 2-4-2 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Olivia Ralston, Midfielder (Sr)
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Annie Gerdes (3rd Season)
2024: 1-13-3 (overall), 0-6-2 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: None
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: TR Bell (29th Season)
2024: 14-3-3 (overall), 7-0-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Anna Hoffman, Midfielder,
2024 MWC Offensive Player of the Year (Sr); Izzy DeStefano, Midfielder,
2023 MWC Offensive Player of the Year, 2023 MWC Newcomer of the Year (Sr); Anna Gracia, Forward,
2022 MWC Newcomer of the Year (Sr); Caitlin Mulcahy, Midfielder,
2023 MWC Defensive Player of the Year (Sr); Theresa Presberg, Defender (Sr); Lola Halsband, Defender (Jr); Annabelle Schroeder, Midfielder,
2024 MWC Newcomer of the Year (So)
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Joe Sagar (8th Season)
2024: 15-5-2 (overall), 7-0-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Ella Lysne, Goalkeeper (Sr); Ava Elders, Forward (Jr)
Monmouth College Scots
Head Coach: Lucas Henderson (5th Season)
2024: 5-8-4 (overall), 3-3-2 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Avery Parks, Defender (Sr)
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Jennifer Dimos (4rd Season)
2024: 5-11-3 (overall), 1-6-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: None