INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Great Lakes Valley Conference released its women's soccer preseason poll Tuesday afternoon and Missouri S&T was picked to finish seventh in the 13-team league this season, as voted on by the league coaches.
 
The Miners are coming off one of the best seasons in program, history in 2021, going 9-6-3 overall and 7-4-3 in GLVC play while posting an unbeaten mark at home for the first time in program history at 5-0-2.
 
The Green & Gold were also back in the postseason for the first time since 2014, and advanced to the semifinals of the GLVC Tournament where they were downed 1-0 on a penalty kick in overtime against eventual league champion Drury.
 
Missouri S&T returns two All-GLVC selections from last season in the persons of Sydney Gratz (Geneva, IL/Geneva) and Danielle Hopkins (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley). Gratz finished last season as the league leader in shots with 69 was top-10 in the GLVC in both points (19), goals (7) and assists (5), all of which led the club last season. Hopkins was tied for second on the team with three goals a season ago, including two game-winners, one of which came in overtime on the final weekend of the regular season against Illinois Springfield to clinch a spot in the postseason.
 
S&T will have a new face on the bench this season, as Jane Grimley-Gunn will begin her head coaching career Thursday when the Miners open against perennial power and preseason number one in the country and defending national champions Grand Valley State on the campus of Maryville University in St. Louis. The Miners will bring back a very veteran team in 2022, with nine of 11 starters back for this season, along with a three others who started at least five games last season and numerous reserves who saw significant action in 2021.

Defending champion Drury earned five first-place votes and just edged out McKendree as the preseason favorite, while the Bearcats earned six first-place votes. UIndy was picked to finish third with one first-place vote, while Truman State and Missouri-St. Louis rounded out the top five, with the Tritons earning the final first-place tally.

The Miners will have a tall task to open the season against the Lakers of GVSU, who are the preseason favorite according to the United Soccer Coaches following a 24-1-2 season a year ago and 12-0-2 in GLIAC play as they went on to defeat to defeat Saint Rose in double overtime by a score of 3-2 to claim the national title. Their opponent in their home-opener Sunday, Missouri Southern, went 3-13-2 and 2-9 in MIAA action in 2021.
 
2022 GLVC WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL

Place	School	Points (1st Place Votes)
1	Drury	133 (5)
2	McKendree	132 (6)
3	Indianapolis	127 (1)
4	Truman State	98
5	Missouri-St. Louis	91 (1)
6	Lewis	86
7	Missouri S&T	69
8	Maryville	64
9	Rockhurst	60
10	Quincy	59
11	Illinois Springfield	52
12	Southwest Baptist	25
13	William Jewell	18