Women's Soccer | August 15, 2016
*Courtesy of the Mid-American Conference
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference Women's Soccer Coaches have made their preseason predictions for the 2016 season. The Kent State Golden Flashes are the favorite to win the East Division regular season title while the Ball State Cardinals are the favorite in the West.
There is a three way tie on who will walk away with the MAC Tournament trophy in November. Ball State, Central Michigan, and Kent State each received three votes in tournament champion predictions.
Coming off a Mid-American Conference regular season championship last fall, the Cardinals have their sights set high again this year. The team returns 14 letterwinners, highlighted by All-MAC defenders Leah Mattingly and Lorina White and All-MAC goalkeeper Alyssa Heintschel.
CMU finished 6-10-3 last season, including 5-5-1 in the MAC. The Chippewas fell on penalty kicks in a MAC Tournament quarterfinal game to Buffalo.
Kent State lost three seniors to graduation, but are bringing five freshmen into the fold. The 2015 Flashes team finished with a record of 11-6-3 and finished 7-4 in conference play.
In the East Division following Kent State, Miami is predicted to finish second and Buffalo in third. Ohio (4), Akron (5) and Bowling Green (6) round out the East.
Western Michigan, last year's MAC Tournament Champions, are selected to finish second in the West Division with Central Michigan following in third. Eastern Michigan and Toledo tied for the four spot and Northern Illinois finishes out the West in sixth, respectively.
EAST
1. Kent State (5)
2. Miami (5)
3. Buffalo (2)
4. Ohio
5. Akron
6. Bowling Green
*(first place votes)
WEST
1. Ball State (11)
2. Western Michigan
3. Central Michigan (1)
4. Eastern Michigan
4. Toledo
6. Northern Illinois
*(first place votes)
Tournament Champion (TIE): Ball State (3), Central Michigan (3), Kent State (3)
Buffalo (2), Miami (1)
*(first place votes)
