Mankato favored in Preseason Soccer poll

(Burnsville, MN/Minnesota News Network) — The Minnesota State-Mankato women’s soccer team has been tabbed the preseason favorite to win the N-S-I-C title in a survey of league coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own team. The Mavericks received 14 of a possible 16 first-place votes. Concordia-St. Paul was chosen second and received one first-place vote. Bemidji State was picked third, while St. Cloud State received the other first-place vote was was selected fourth. Augustana was listed as fifth, followed by U-Mary, Northern State, Minot State, Wayne State, and Winona State. Minnesota-Duluth was selected 11th, followed by Southwest Minnesota State, Jamestown, Sioux Falls, MSU-Moorhead, and Minnesota-Crookston. Bemidji State senior Katrina Barthelt of Barlett, Illinois was named the N-S-I-C Women’s Soccer Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Minnesota State-Mankato senior Kiera Laney of Maple Grove was chosen the league’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.