Despite Changes Cobbers Still Picked Atop MIAC

MIAC women's soccer preview courtesy of Matt Higgins and the MIAC office

Complete MIAC preview - http://miacathletics.com/news_links/2013-14_previews/082813b_WSOC_Preview_2013

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A year ago, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) women's soccer campaign was a season-long coronation for Concordia College. The Cobbers were near-perfect in capturing MIAC regular season and Playoff championships, as well as a berth in the NCAA Division III Sweet 16. However, a Concordia coaching change and graduation, along with improvements on other campuses around the league, all contribute to an intriguing 2013 season.

The 2012 Cobbers rolled to the MIAC title with a 10-1 conference record and 30 points in the standings - 10 more than anyone else in the league. St. Olaf and a resurgent Augsburg tied for second with 20 points and 6-3-2 records, and Saint Benedict edged Macalester (both 6-4-1, 19 points) in a tiebreaker for the final postseason bid. The Auggies valiantly battled Concordia in the MIAC Playoff championship, but the Cobbers rode their penalty-kick victory to two more wins in the NCAA tournament as they completed a 17-4-2 season.

After Concordia, things were incredibly tight throughout the rest of the standings a season ago. The Auggies and Oles tied at 20 points, the Scots and Blazers were a point back at 19, Bethel and St. Thomas each had 17 points, Hamline had 16 and both Carleton each amassed 12 points. So just eight total points separated nine spots in the conference standings. Gustavus finished 11th with nine points, and Saint Mary's rounded out the final spot.

In 2013, Concordia will try to replace the leadership and production of two-time MIAC Player-of-the-Year Sarah Rounds and four-time All-MIAC goalkeeper Ali Nelson, as well as departed former coach Dan Weiler, who left for the head coaching position at Christopher Newport University. All seem like a tall task for new Cobber Coach Kevin Roos, but plenty of talent and championship pedigree remain on the roster.

However, all that close competition below Concordia in the standings should move upward and close the gap in 2013. Expect improved Saint Benedict, Macalester, St. Olaf and St. Thomas teams to be in the conference championship conversation, and Augsburg, Hamline, Bethel, Carleton and an improving St. Catherine program to also be in the mix for the postseason or even a title hunt.

Fortunately, the start of the 2013 season is just two short days away, and all the looming questions and optimism of a new season can start to play itself out on the field beginning Friday.

COACHES PREDICT COMPANY FOR CONCORDIA
The defending champion Cobbers received the most first-place votes (six) of any team in the 2013 MIAC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll, but Concordia shares the top spot with Saint Benedict, as each received a total of 110 points. The Blazers received four first-place votes and were tabbed as conference co-favorites with the defending champs.

Macalester also received a first-place vote and a total of 95 points to take the No. 3 spot in the poll. St. Olaf - which received the final first-place vote - and St. Thomas each received 82 points to tie for fourth place, and to prove the conference's strength across its top five spots. Augsburg wasn't far back in sixth with 70 points and Hamline edged Bethel by three points for seventh place, 63-60, to give the MIAC eight teams all eyeing the four conference postseason bids.

Carleton was just six points behind Bethel with a total of 54 points in ninth place, and it's certainly plausible the Knights could surge into a return to the postseason as well. St. Catherine, coming off a school-record nine wins, came in 10th with 31 points, while Gustavus (24 points) and Saint Mary's (11 points) rounded out the final two spots in the MIAC coaches' predictions.

WHAT'S NEW?
The aforementioned Roos is the only new coach in the conference this season, following a 2012 season that saw massive turnover. Roos is the sixth head coach in Cobber history and he inherits a program that has won at least 10 games in each season over the past decade. Roos was a standout men's player at Concordia from 1998-2001, and will try to keep the Cobbers' championship pedigree intact.

With Concordia's coaching transition, seven of the MIAC's 12 teams have hired a new head coach over the past three seasons. Augsburg's Mike Navarre - now in his 15th season leading the Auggies - is the longest tenured head coach in the conference, and the only coach with 10 or more seasons at his current post. Next is St. Olaf's Jeremy Driver (eighth season), Hamline's Ted Zingman (seventh) and St. Thomas' Shelia McGill (seventh).

WHO'S BACK?
It's already been discussed that Concordia has some major pieces to replace, but if any team is equipped for the transition, it's the Cobbers. Concordia certainly has plenty of talent back to bolster continued title hopes, starting with a pair of All-MIAC and All-Region stars. Senior midfielder Gina Weiss and junior defender Libby Fansdal are both back to lead the defending champs, as is All-MIAC Honorable Mention midfielder Laura Prosinski.

Meanwhile, it's easy to see why the Blazers were also a popular pick. 2011 Co-MIAC Player-of-the-Year Colleen Bochard is back for her senior season after earning both All-MIAC and All-Region honors a season ago. She'll team up with All-MIAC selections Alyssa Hoffman and Laura Kosch to give Steve Kimble's team plenty of scoring punch.

Macalester also welcomes back one of the league's top stars, as forward Georgia Cloepfil is back to lead the Scots after scoring 15 goals a year ago and earning both All-MIAC and All-Region honors. Senior goalkeeper Ellen Palmquist and her 1.19 goals against average is also back, as is midfielder Bonnie Gale and her six goals.

St. Olaf's hopes start with defense in 2013, leading with All-MIAC goalkeeper Nora Forbes. A year ago, Forbes had a stellar 0.96 goals against average and 112 saves. All-MIAC Honorable Mention selections Megan Campbell and Kajsa Brindley are also back for the Oles. The Tommies' title hopes lean on a decorated senior trio. Forward Katy Scherer is a two-time All-Conference performer, and fellow forward Jenna Savino and midfielder Jaclyn Glaser both joined Scherer on the All-MIAC team in 2012.

Augsburg graduated a pair of talented "Bris" in Bri Clark and Bri Dorale, but the Auggies' cupboard certainly isn't bare. All-MIAC and All-Region midfielder Molly Allen leads the returners, along with All-MIAC Honorable Mention defender Alezcandra Miller and starting goalkeeper Katie Gajewski. Across the metro, Hamline's high hopes are fueled by the talent of star junior forward Aileen Scheibner, an All-MIAC pick, as well as talented senior goalkeeper Molly Jacbos and senior forward/mid Brienne Garside.

Bethel graduated four-time All-MIAC star Kelsey Flaherty, but hope forward Jessica Huseby - an All-Conference selection - can carry the torch forward in 2013. All-MIAC Honorable Mention defender Olivia Haggerty teams with Huseby to give the Royals a talented junior tandem. Carleton is another team expected to get defensive in 2013, led by All-MIAC senior defender Layne Teska and All-MIAC Honorable Mention goalkeeper Mikayla Coulombe, who had nine shutouts and a 0.77 goals against average.

St. Catherine hopes to take another step forward in 2013 behind All-MIAC Honorable Mention selection Elly Leyva, who netted three game-winners in her first season a year ago. Sophomore goalkeeper Danielle Mendez and her five shutouts are also back for SCU. Gustavus will again be led by All-MIAC Honorable Mention seniors Amanda Cartony (forward) and Estee Berg (defender), who both hail from Stillwater, Minn. Saint Mary's will lean on sophomore midfielder Carolin Blackwood, who is coming off an All-MIAC Honorable Mention rookie campaign, as well as junior forward Bethany Schmidt.

CIRCLE THESE DATES
Fortunately for MIAC women's soccer fans, the season isn't far away now with nine of the 12 teams set to start on Friday, and two more beginning their seasons Saturday. Gustavus, Bethel, St. Thomas, Concordia and St. Catherine all make their home debuts Friday, with Carleton, Augsburg, St. Olaf and Hamline also opening that day, albeit on the road. Saint Mary's and Saint Benedict both start Saturday, and Macalester opens on Sept. 4.

What promises to be an entertaining battle for the MIAC championship and four postseason bids starts with a pair of games on Sept. 17 and the rest of the teams in action on Sept. 18. The final day of the regular season - which could determine the title and Playoff seeds - is Saturday, Nov. 2. The two MIAC Playoff semifinals will be held Nov. 5 with the championship game set for Saturday, Nov. 9.

One big reason the title could be decided on the final day is because the co-winners of the coaches' poll square off to close the regular season. Saint Benedict travels to Moorhead, Minn., to face Concordia in a 1 p.m. game with huge implications on Nov. 2. That day, St. Olaf also travels across town to face Carleton at 1 p.m. in an always-entertaining rivalry game, and St. Catherine ventures across the metro area to take on Bethel at 1 p.m. in a showdown of two MIAC teams on the rise.

The conference season starts with a marquee matchup as well, as Macalester travels to St. Thomas on Sept. 18 for a 4 p.m. showdown that could alter postseason seeds or fortunes right out of the gate. On Oct. 2, Gustavus will host Saint Mary's in a 4 p.m. matchup of teams hoping to take a big step forward in 2013, and Augsburg travels to St. Paul to face Hamline at 4 p.m. on Oct. 15 in a game that could alter the postseason fates of two teams with high hopes this season.

A CLOSER LOOK
The rest of the 2013 MIAC Women's Soccer Preview contains complete results from the 2013 Preseason Coaches' Poll, MIAC Playoff details, helpful links and a preview for each team submitted by their sports information director. The new MIAC web site - www.miacathletics.com - will be an outstanding source for MIAC women's soccer news, schedules, scores, stats and more throughout the 2013 season.

Visit the MIAC scoreboard on game days to follow all the action, and download the MIAC mobile app to have all the information with you anywhere you travel. Also, connect to the conference on its Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages for updates and interaction all season long.

2013 MIAC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll

Coaches voted for every team in the conference except their own team. Points were assigned for each vote (11 for first, 10 for second, etc.) Teams are ranked in order of highest point total to lowest with vote totals listed and first-place votes shown in parentheses.