INDIANAPOLIS—Ashland, last year’s conference champion, was voted the Great Midwest preseason favorite for the 2023 season in a poll of the league’s head coaches. The Eagles were the top defensive team a year ago, with a goals-against average of .720.
Last season, Ashland went 15-3-3 and 11-1-2 in league play. Head Coach Cayleb Paulino returns his top-two scorers from last year in Dani Hicks and McKinley Mendenhall. Both Hicks and Mendenhall led the team with a season-high nine goals. Hicks totaled 23 points last year with nine goals and five assists. Mendenhall led the league in assists at 13 and was second in the conference in points at 31. Maddy Grabowski also returns as Ashland aims to repeat as conference champions for the third consecutive year.
2022 regular season champion Cedarville was voted second, earning two first-place votes by coaches. 2022 Goalie of the Year Brooke Ackley returns for Coach Jonathan Meade. During her junior season, Ackley posted a record of 16-4-1, while allowing jusy 17 goals. She made 66 saves, including six shutouts. Last year, the Yellow Jackets led the Great Midwest in scoring with 50 goals through 23 games.
Findlay and Northwood were voted at the three and four spot, as each team returns two First-Team All-Conference selections. Senior Ellie Tischler returns for the Oilers as one of the top defenders in the league. Tischler was a D2CCA First-Team All-Region honoree, starting and appearing in 19 games. The Timberwolves return their leading scorer in Brooke Honeycutt, who totaled ten goals last season, including four game-winning goals.
Trevecca Nazarene rounds out the top five of the poll, followed by new member Thomas More slotted in sixth.
Great Midwest women’s soccer is set to begin play with 12 matches on Thursday, August 31. The 2023 women’s soccer champion will be crowned Saturday, November 11
th.
| 2023 Women's Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll |
| 1. Ashland (11) |
156 |
| 2. Cedarville (2) |
147 |
| 3. Findlay |
131 |
| 4.Northwood |
124 |
| 5. Trevecca Nazarene |
107 |
| 6. Thomas More |
90 |
| 7. Ohio Dominican |
84 |
| t8. Tiffin |
81 |
| t8. Walsh |
81 |
| 10. Ursuline |
65 |
| 11. Malone |
41 |
t13. Lake Erie
t13. Kentucky Wesleyan |
38
38 |