The Ohio Valley Conference released their pre-season soccer poll this morning as voted on by the Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors. the Murray State Racers were picked to finish second while receiving four first-place votes. SIUE was picked as the preseason favorite receiving 12 first place votes. Southeast Missouri picked up two first place votes and were picked to finish third followed by UT Martin who was picked to finish fourth. Belmont and Tennessee Tech were both picked to finish tied for fifth with Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, and Morehead State rounding out the poll.
The Racers return OVC Defender of the Year Izzy Heckman who helped lead a strong Racers defense this spring and was named a pre-season OVC Player to Watch. All-OVC 1st team forward Chloe Barnthouse who scored a league-leading seven goals last season returns for her sophomore season and OVC All-Newcomer goalkeeper Jenna Villacres who posted two shutouts and 37 saves last season returns as well.
The Racers soccer team gets the season started Tuesday night at Evansville for an exhibition match.
2021 OVC WOMEN'S SOCCER PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(As
selected by the OVC Women's Head Soccer Coaches and Communications Directors)
1. SIUE (12 first-place votes) - 121
2. Murray State
(Four first-place votes) - 116
3. Southeast Missouri (Two first-place votes)
- 99
4. UT Martin - 89
t5. Belmont - 66
t5. Tennessee Tech -
66
7. Austin Peay - 43
8. Eastern Illinois - 28
9. Morehead State -
20