SIOUX FALLS - The University of Sioux Falls Women's Soccer, which recorded a Division II program-best 5-11-2 season, including 4-9-2 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play a year ago, received 70 points in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll released by the league office on Wednesday, Aug. 14. The Cougars were picked by the coaches to finish 12th.
Minnesota State received the most points, amassing 222 points, as well as 12 first place votes. After Minnesota State, Augustana was second with 208 points and two first place votes. The only other team to receive first place votes was Bemidji State, who also received two first place votes and 199 total points.
Leading the Cougars will be USF's Player to Watch Lauren LaFavre, a senior forward who tallied two assists in 18 matches last year. She ranks as USF's all-time leader in points with 21 across three seasons and is tied for the all-time lead in goals scored with seven. She also has three game-winning goals which ranks first in program history.
USF will be aided by the return of All-NSIC defender Lily McKown, the defensive Player to Watch for USF, who scored a goal in 2018 and was a key part in the Cougars' defense that only allowed an average of 1.5 goals per match, which ranked the Cougars 11th in conference.
Another factor on USF's offensive attack will be NSIC All-Academic honoree Lindsey Power who scored a team-high four goals, and led the team in assists (3) in 15 matches played.
The Cougars will also be strong in the net with the return of senior goalie Brayden Paul, who played all 1,660 minutes for the Cougars in 2018. Paul also recorded three clean sheets against Black Hills State, Minnesota Crookston, and Concordia-St. Paul. She had a 1.52 goals allowed average a year ago, which ranks third all-time at USF for a season.
The key midfielder in the senior class will be McKayla Philippi, who returns after scoring two goals and two assists in 2018.
The Cougars will open the season at home, hosting Fort Hays State on Sept. 8.
Remaining non-conference fixtures for the Cougars includes Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western. Fort Hays State and Missouri Western played each other in the quarterfinals of the MIAA tournament, with FHSU advancing to the semifinals. Northwest Missouri fell to the bottom of the MIAA with a 2-15 overall record.
The Cougars will open conference play at the Sports Complex where they face Wayne State on Fri., Sept. 20, followed by a Sunday afternoon match against rival Augustana, who competed in the NCAA Regionals a year ago.
USF faces another regional competitor at the Sports Complex in Bemidji State on Oct. 4. The Cougars will face the remaining NCAA Central Regions participants from the NSIC in back-to-back matches, facing Minnesota State in Mankato on Oct. 13, followed be a match against Minot State in Minot on Oct. 18.
The 2019 NSIC Soccer season will see its first action on Thursday, September 5 with NSIC action beginning on September 20.
