Women’s soccer takes second in A-R-C Preseason Poll
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Simpson College women's soccer team ranked second in the conference's preseason coaches poll, receiving one first place vote, on Wednesday.
Defending champion Loras, with eight first place votes, took home the top spot with 64 points, followed closely by Simpson at 57 points.
The Storm begin the 2024 campaign with five straight home matches, starting on Friday, Aug. 30 against Ill. Wesleyan. Entering his seventh season, head coach Jeremy Reinert looks to guide the Storm back to the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season. "We have a special group with big goals in 2024," said Reinert. "Our only focus will be on becoming the best versions of ourselves and seeing where we fall in late October and November."
2023 REFRESHER
- The Storm compiled a 16-3-2 overall record, tied for the second-most wins in school history.
- Simpson went 7-1-0 in conference play to finish second in league standings. The Storm reached the conference tournament championship match for the second year in a row, but came up short in a penalty kick shootout.
- Despite the championship loss, Simpson earned an at-large berth to the NCAA DIII Tournament where the Storm claimed a first round victory over St. Catherine. It was the program's first national appearance since 1999 and second trip all-time.
- The Storm achieved the first national ranking in program history after a 7-1 start to the season and ranked top four in all eight regional polls, including three weeks at No. 2.
- For the second-straight season, Cassie Nash was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America Team, earning first team honors. She also was named first team all-region and all-conference.
- Joining Nash on the United Soccer Coaches All-Region team was Julia Wagoner (first team) and Maddie Hays (third team).
- Wagoner was voted the American Rivers Conference Defensive MVP and joined Nash, Hailey Kowzan, Lani Mears and Brissa Valadez on the all-conference squad. Jordyn Foelske landed on the honorable mention team.
- The Storm ranked second overall in the conference with 50 goals scored.
- Nash finished second in the conference in goals (22) and points (54), fourth in assists (10) and game-winning goals (5), and led the conference in shots per game (2.86).
- Mears and returning sophomore Meredith Downs combined for 10 shutouts between the posts.
KEY OFFENSIVE RETURNERS (2023 STATS)
Cassie Nash, graduate forward (22 goals, 10 assists)
Jordyn Foelske, senior forward (4 goals, 5 assists)
Brissa Valadez, junior forward (4 goals, 4 assists)
Hailey Kowzan, senior midfielder (2 goals, 2 assists)
KEY DEFENSIVE RETURNERS (2023 STATS)
Julia Wagoner, senior midfielder (20 matches, 2 goals, 2 assists)
Maddie Hays, senior defender (18 matches, 4 goals, 4-5 PK)
Elle Street, junior defender (21 matches, 1839 minutes)
Meredith Downs, sophomore goalkeeper (7-0-1 record, 0.60 goals against average)
2024 AMERICAN RIVERS CONFERENCE WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
1. Loras (18-2-1, 8-0-0 A-R-C) - 64 points
2. Simpson (16-3-2, 7-1-0 A-R-C) - 57 points
3. Dubuque (11-6-1,4-3-1 A-R-C) - 47 points
t-4. Luther (8-7-4, 4-3-1 A-R-C) - 36 points
t-4. Wartburg (6-11-1, 4-4-0 A-R-C) - 36 points
6. Central (9-5-4, 4-3-1 A-R-C) - 34 points
7. Coe (6-9-2, 1-6-1 A-R-C) - 22 points
8. Nebraska Wesleyan (2-12-2, 1-5-2 A-R-C) - 20 points
9. Buena Vista (3-13-0, 0-8-0 A-R-C) - 8 points
