ST. LOUIS – The Drake University women's soccer team has been picked fourth in the 2018 Missouri Valley Conference women's soccer preseason coaches poll, the MVC office announced Monday, Aug. 13.
 
Drake, which was selected second in the 2017 preseason poll but captured its sixth MVC regular season title, tallied 45 points in the 2018 poll. Loyola was tabbed this season's favorite with 60 points, including earning five first place votes. Missouri State and UNI round out the top four with 50 and 46 points, respectively.
 
The Bulldogs placed two student-athletes on the preseason all-conference team in Hannah Bormann (Amana, Iowa) and senior Alyssa Brand (Skokie, Ill.). Bormann was named the 2017 MVC Freshman of the Year and is the team's top returning scorer with three goals in her first season. Brand is a three-time All-MVC selection, who scored two goals and was tied for the team lead with Bormann in assists with four last season.
 
Drake opens the regular season in Missoula, Mont., for the Montana Cup, Aug. 17 and 19, where it will face San Francisco (Aug. 17) and Fresno State (Aug. 19). 
 
Rank      Team (1st-place votes) - Points
1.            Loyola (5) - 60
2.            Missouri State (2) - 51
3.            UNI (1) - 46
4.            Drake - 45
5.            Illinois State - 38
6.            Valparaiso - 24
7.            Evansville - 15
8.            Indiana State - 10