Regional College Soccer: Women’s Preseason Preview

Last week I was able to catch a game between the MSU-Mankato Mavericks and UNI Panthers and as colleges across the state start their seasons, we offer a preview Women’s College Soccer from around the Upper Midwest. From the NSIC in Division 2 to the MIAC and UMAC in Division 3, you’ll find standings, results, and the next week of games in all 3 conferences right here. Prepare yourself with our preseason preview as we check out the Preseason Conference and National Rankings and games over the next week.

Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (Division 2)

NSIC

The NSIC is made up of 16 schools across most of the Upper Midwest, and each school in the conference has a women’s soccer program.

In the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll the defending NSIC Tournament Champion Mavericks of MSU-Mankato were picked as #1. This is the 6th time since joining the conference in 2008 that the Mavericks have been picked as the favorites. The 2016 Regular Season Champion, Minot State Beavers, are ranked #4 for 2017.

In Regional Rankings the conference has 3 teams ranked in the NCAA D2 Central Region with Minot State at #3, MSU-Mankato at #4, and Bemidji State at #6. MSU-Mankato is the only NSIC team ranked nationally, holding the #19 spot in D2.

The NSIC Regular Season consists of 15 conference games and starts on Thursday August 31st. The regular season concludes with the best 8 teams making the NSIC Tournament, which will be played from November 1st-5th. The higher seed in each tournament game hosts.

Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Division 3)

The MIAC is one of the two conferences in Minnesota that competes at the Division 3 level of the NCAA. At this level players do not receive Athletic Scholarships and rosters are made up of a lot of Minnesotans. The MIAC has 13 schools, 12 of which have women’s soccer teams (the one that doesn’t is St. John’s University, as it’s athletic department only has men’s sports).

While the MIAC has not released the preseason rankings, three schools have been ranked regionally. Augsburg sits at #2, St. Thomas at #4, and St. Catherine’s at #8 in the North Region of NCAA Division 3.

The season is comprised of 11 conference games that start on September 12th, but the teams will play Non-Conference Games starting September 1st. Following the season the schools will all gain entry into the conference tournament between October 31st and November 4th. The higher seed in each tournament game hosts.

Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (Division 3)

The UMAC is the other conference in Minnesota that competes at the Division 3 level of the NCAA. The UMAC comprises of 9 members, all of which have women’s soccer teams. Unlike the MIAC, two of the schools in this Conference are from Wisconsin with Northland College in Ashland and UW-Superior in Superior.

No UMAC teams are ranked either the regionally or nationally.

The UMAC season will consist of 12 conference games beginning on Tuesday September 5th with Non-Conference games starting September 1st. Following the regular season the best 5 teams will make the conference tournament that is hosted by the high seed and runs from October 30th to November 4th.

Preseason Schedule

Thursday August 24th
Dakota Wesleyan vs Sioux Falls

Friday August 25th
MSU-Mankato (D2/NSIC) vs Gustavus Adolphus (D3/MIAC)

Saturday August 26th
St. Cloud State (D2/NSIC) vs St. Benedict (D3/MIAC)
Upper Iowa vs Coe College
Winona State vs Luther College

Sunday August 27th
St. Benedict (D3/MIAC) vs Southwest Minnesota State (D2/NSIC)

Monday August 28th
Rocky Mountain College vs Mary

*For exact kickoff times, locations, and tickets, visit the athletics website of the home school, which can be found by clicking the bolded team.

Later this week we’ll also do a preview of the Men’s College Soccer teams and conferences from around the Upper Midwest.