AUGUST 15, 2011

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Drake junior forward Laura Moklestad (Des Moines, Iowa/Roosevelt) and sophomore defender Megan Fisher (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny) were among 11 players tabbed by a vote of the seven Missouri Valley Conference head women's soccer coaches as All-MVC Preseason first-team selections, the league announced on Monday (Aug. 15).

Moklestad was named to the first team after turning a sophomore campaign in which she registered team highs in goals (5), points (11), shots (41) and shots on goal (21) en route to being honored as a first team All-MVC selection.  Moklestad also became only the third Bulldog to earn regional accolades when she was tabbed a 2010 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Performance Subaru All-Great Lakes Regional third-team recipient.

Fisher started all 19 games as a freshman, helping anchor a Drake defensive unit that registered a school record nine shutouts.  She was tabbed to the All-MVC second team and All-Newcomer squad after ranking second on the team in goals (4), assists (2), points (10), while adding 22 shots, including 11 on net from her defender's slot.

As a team, Drake was picked to finish fifth in the MVC Coaches Preseason poll with 21 points.  Pegged ahead of the Bulldogs are Indiana State (24 points), Missouri State (38 points), Illinois State (39 points) and league favorite Creighton (45 points).  Rounding out the poll was Evansville (15 points) and Northern Iowa (14 points).

The Bulldogs open their regular season on Friday (Aug. 19) hosting in-state rival Iowa State at the Cownie Soccer Complex. Game time is slated for 7:00 p.m.

Team (Total Points)

1. Creighton (45 points)

2. Illinois State (39 points)

3. Missouri State (38 points)

4. Indiana State (24 points)

5. Drake (21 points)

6. Evansville (15 points)

7. Northern Iowa (14 points)

2011 MVC Women's Soccer Preseason Team

GK - Jessica Teahan, Missouri State, Sr., Lenexa, Kan. (St. Thomas Aquinas)

D - Megan Fisher, Drake, So., Ankeny, Iowa (Ankeny)

D - Natalie McCabe, Illinois State, Sr., London, Ontario (A.B. Lucas Secondary School)

D - Nia Williams, Missouri State, Jr., Roeland Park, Kan. (St. James Academy)

MF - Jessica Carlson, Illinois State, Sr., Darien, Ill. (Hinsdale South)

MF - Alison Gasparovich, Indiana State, Sr., Overland Park, Kan. (St. Thomas Aquinas)

F - Laura Moklestad, Drake, Jr., Des Moines, Iowa (Roosevelt)

F - Breanna Beine, Evansville, So., St. Peters, Mo. (Francis Howell Central)

F - Lauren Cingoranelli, Creighton, So., Aurora, Colo. (Grandview)

F - Brittney Neumann, Creighton, Jr., Omaha, Neb. (Millard North)

F - Andrea Zuniga, Creighton, Sr., Omaha, Neb. (Burke/Nebraska)

Honorable Mention

GK - Alicia Montgomery, Creighton, Sr., Walnut Creek, Calif. (Carondelet)

D - Sam Copley, Northern Iowa, So., Woodward, Iowa (Dallas Center-Grimes)

D/M - Erin Gunther, Creighton, Sr., Longmont, Colo. (Silver Creek)

D - Allie Newsom, Illinois State, So., Manteno, Ill. (Manteno High)

MF - Sam Conrad, Evansville, Sr., Gilbert, Ariz. (Gilbert High)

MF - Grace Cross, Missouri State, Jr., Lee's Summit, Mo. (Lee's Summit North High)

MF - Seyma Erenli, Indiana State, Sr., Melbourne, Australia (Royal Melbourne Inst. of Tech.)

MF - Kiki McClellan, Northern Iowa, Jr., Aurora, Ill. (Waubonsie Valley)

F - Macy Mauer, Creighton, Sr. Woodbury, Minn. (Woodbury)