Women’s soccer picked fifth in A-R-C Coaches’ Poll

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- After tallying back-to-back top-three finishes in the American Rivers Conference standings, Simpson College women's soccer is picked fifth in the A-R-C Preseason Coaches' Poll for a second straight season, the league announced Tuesday.

After two straight A-R-C titles, Wartburg holds the top spot, with Loras, Dubuque and Luther sitting ahead of the Storm, respectively. Nebraska Wesleyan, Central, Coe and Buena Vista fill out the remaining four slots in the poll.

Simpson finished 4-2-1 in the fall-to-spring season after the campaign was trimmed to a conference-only slate due to COVID-19. The Storm captured sole possession of third place to tally back-to-back top-three finishes in the conference rankings for the first time since 2005-06 for the program.

Head coach Jeremy Reinert's squad returns four all-conference performers from the spring season. In her first year with the team, junior Cassie Nash tallied four goals and two assists to earn all-conference accolades, while senior Megan Roberts and juniors Lizzie Arnburg and Abby Cozzoni were honorable mention selections.

Simpson's defense shined with four shutouts in seven matches, while only conceding four goals to end third in the league. Sophomore Brenny Frederick returns in goal for the Storm after a stellar rookie campaign. Frederick was third in the A-R-C in goals against average (.554) and fourth in save percentage (.810).

The regular season begins Sept. 1 for Simpson in a 3 p.m. match at Illinois Wesleyan. The Storm open their home slate Sept. 4 against Benedictine.

2021 American Rivers Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Wartburg (7-0, 7-0 A-R-C)
2. Loras (7-1, 7-1 A-R-C
3. Dubuque (6-3-1, 4-3-1 A-R-C)
4. Luther (4-4, 4-4 A-R-C)
5. Simpson (4-2-1, 4-2-1 A-R-C)
6. Nebraska Wesleyan (2-3, 2-3 A-R-C)
7. Central (3-4, 3-4 A-R-C)
8. Coe (1-7, 1-7 A-R-C)
9. Buena Vista (0-8, 0-8 A-R-C)