St. Louis – The Missouri State women’s soccer team was voted the preseason favorite in the Missouri Valley Conference coaches poll, the league announced Wednesday along with its preseason all-conference team.
The Bears received seven of the 11 first-place finishes from other coaches in the league, earning a total of 116 points. Drake finished second with 109 points and three first-place finishes, and UIC followed in third place with 87 points. The only other team to receive first-place finishes was Murray State, which finished sixth with 73 points and a first-place finish.
Nelson returns eight starters from a 12-2-5 team that finished second in the MVC last year (7-0-3).
Six Bears were named to the preseason All-MVC team, including reigning MVC Goalkeeper of the Year Camielle Day who made it onto the list along with the two-time MVC Defender of the Year Carly RaunigSeniors Jenna Anderson And Grace O’Keefe also earned a spot on the preseason All-MVC first team. Kaeli Benedict And Gabbi Schlapper were given honorable mentions.
Day recorded the most shutouts in the MVC last season (10), while O’Keefe led the Valley in assists (7). In 2023, Missouri State led the nation in goals-against average (.416) and shutout percentage (.684).
The Bears have the most athletes on the preseason team, followed by UIC and UNI with two each.
The Bears’ 2024 season and final season in the Missouri Valley Conference begins on Thursday, August 15th with a 7 p.m. game at Missouri. Nelson’s team returns to Springfield on Sunday for its first home game against Tulsa at 4 p.m.
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