ST. LOUIS – The Missouri State women's soccer program has been picked third in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason coaches' poll, announced by the league Wednesday.
 
Loyola (80 points) garnered eight first-place votes to nab the top spot, while Illinois State followed in second with 66 points. MSU rounded out the top-three, garnering 63 points and one first-place vote.
 
Drake (61) paced the remainder of the Valley to land in the fourth-place spot, ahead of Northern Iowa (38), who finished fifth. Valparaiso (36), Evansville (25), Indiana State (23), and Southern Illinois (13) were picked in the final four slots of the poll. 
 
Last season, the Bears finished third in the MVC with a 4-2-1 conference mark. MSU returns 2018 and 2019 Goalkeeper of the Year Kaitlin Maxwell and All-MVC first-team selection, Anna Durnin.
 
Both Maxwell and Durnin also garnered first-team MVC preseason honors in the 11-player preseason All-MVC. Junior Isabel Burke also garnered a first-team preseason selection. MSU tied both Illinois State and Loyola having the most players selected to the first team with three.
 
The Bears begin MVC play Sunday, Feb. 28, as they host Loyola. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. from Allison South Stadium.


MVC Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Loyola (80)
2. Illinois State (66)
3. Missouri State (63)
4. Drake (61)
5. Northern Iowa (38)
6. Valparaiso (36)
7. Evansville (25)
8. Indiana State (23)