NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Wheaton was predicted to win its 16th College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) women’s soccer title according to a preseason coaches’ poll announced Wednesday.
The Thunder (23-2-2, 6-1-0 in 2011) won the poll with 49 points, including seven first place votes and will go for their third-straight regular season title in 2012.
Wheaton has won 15 of the CCIW’s 17 regular season titles awarded since the conference began sponsoring women’s soccer in 1995. During that span, the Thunder won three national titles (2004, 2006, 2007) and are coming off a second place finish last season.
Illinois Wesleyan (14-4-2, 5-1-1) placed second in the coaches’ poll with 43 points including one first place vote. The Titans have advanced to the NCAA’s postseason in each of the last four years.
Elmhurst (13-4-1, 4-2-1) placed third in the poll with 35 points, followed by Augustana (11-8-1, 4-3-1) (32), Carthage (8-9-2, 2-4-1) (22), North Park (8-8-1, 4-3-0) (19), North Central (7-9-1, 0-6-1) (13) and Millikin (7-8-1, 1-6-0) (11).
Voting is done by the CCIW’s head women’s soccer coaches. Each coach votes for the seven other schools in the conference in order of predicted finish. Points are assigned in reverse order of voting (seven points for first, six for second, etc.). Coaches may not vote for their own teams.
2012 CCIW Women's Soccer Poll
|
Rank |
Team |
Points |
First Place
Votes |
|
1 |
Wheaton |
49 |
7 |
|
2 |
Illinois Wesleyan |
43 |
1 |
|
3 |
Elmhurst |
35 |
|
|
4 |
Augustana |
32 |
|
|
5 |
Carthage |
22 |
|
|
6 |
North Park |
19 |
|
|
7 |
North Central |
13 |
|
|
8 |
Millikin |
11 |
|