Marian University women’s soccer received 203 points to finish sixth in the NACC preseason poll, as voted on by the sports information professionals and head coaches of the NACC.

After making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, Illinois Tech has been picked as the favorite to win the league with 331 points and 22 of the 26 first-place tallies.  Also finishing above 300 points was MSOE at 302 with the Raiders grabbing two first-place votes.  Dominican had the final first-place picks and finished third at 295 total points.  Three schools finished with more than 200 points in CUW (256), St. Norbert (221), and Marian (203).  The preseason picks for conference tournament teams was rounded out by Concordia Chicago at 162 points and Wisconsin Lutheran at 159 points.

The Warriors narrowly edged out Edgewood by a single point.  Aurora was the final squad with more than 100 points at 114.  The poll was rounded out by Lakeland (71), Benedictine (65), and Rockford (29).

The 12-game conference slate is set to begin Wednesday, September 17 with Marian traveling to St. Norbert to open NACC play.

The top eight teams in the final regular-season standings qualify for the conference tournament. First-round games are slated for Sunday, Nov. 2, followed by semifinals Wednesday, Nov. 5, and the tournament championship Saturday, Nov. 8. The conference tournament champion receives the NACC’s automatic berth into the 2024 NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship.

Marian opens the season at home Friday, August 29 taking on Augustana (Ill.) at 4 p.m.