Storm tabbed third in A-R-C Preseason Poll
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Fresh off its best season in 10 years, the Simpson College women's soccer team was picked third with 51 points in the 2022 American Rivers Conference Preseason Poll.
Simpson posted a 13-6-1 overall record in 2021 and finished third in the league with a 6-2 record against A-R-C opponents. The Storm's overall win total was the most since 2011, while the team's six conference victories were the most in 15 seasons. Simpson wrapped up the regular season on a five-game win streak and advanced to the A-R-C Tournament semifinals after tallying its first postseason victory since 2011.
"We feel we have a team capable of winning a championship this season," said head coach Jeremy Reinert. "That being said, there is so much talent across the league, there will be several teams capable of that accomplishment. It's going to be a tight race in one of the strongest DIII conferences in the nation."
Loras, ranked No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, accumulated 64 points in the voting to sit atop the poll. The Duhawks advanced to the NCAA DIII Final Four and went 21-1-2 overall with a perfect 8-0 A-R-C record in 2021. With 54 points, Wartburg came in second following the program's fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and a 15-4-1 mark last season. The top three were followed by Luther (41 points), Dubuque (39 points), Central (29 points), Nebraska Wesleyan (19 points), Coe (18 points) and Buena Vista (9 points).
Coach Reinert is back for his fifth season and returns all five all-conference performers from a year ago including his two top scorers in Cassie Nash and Megan Roberts. On her way to becoming just the third all-region performer in program history, Nash led the conference in nearly every statistical category and scored 13 of the Storm's 46 goals in 2021. Roberts returns after scoring a career-high seven goals last season, including six during Simpson's successful conference season.
Defensively, all-conference performers Lizzie Arnburg, Abby Cozzoni, Brenny Frederick and Brooklin Froehlich look to build on the Storm's success from a year ago which included five consecutive shutouts (t-1st A-R-C) and a 0.88 goals against average in league play (3rd A-R-C). Overall, Reinert's defense blanked seven opponents.
Other key returners for the Storm include senior Cambri Mason, juniors Hailey Kowzan and Julia Wagoner, and sophomores Jordyn Foelske and Maddie Hays.
The Storm are set to kick off the new season at home on Sept. 1 against Ill. Wesleyan. Simpson will later play its first conference game on Saturday, Sept. 24 against Coe at Buxton Stadium.
2022 American Rivers Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Loras (21-1-2, 8-0 A-R-C) - 64 points
2. Wartburg (15-4-1, 7-1 A-R-C) - 54 points
3. Simpson (13-6-1, 6-2 A-R-C) - 51 points
4. Luther (9-10, 4-4 A-R-C) - 41 points
5. Dubuque (8-9, 4-4 A-R-C) - 39 points
6. Central (9-8-1, 3-5 A-R-C) - 29 points
7. Nebraska Wesleyan (5-11, 2-6 A-R-C) - 19 points
8. Coe (3-14-1, 2-6 A-R-C) - 18 points
9. Buena Vista (1-15, 0-8 A-R-C) - 9 points
