WOMEN’S SOCCER
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Big Ten CommunicationsPublished: 8/13/2024, Last updated: 8/13/2024
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UCLA Selected as 2024 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Favorite

 

ROSEMONT, Ill. – UCLA has been chosen as the favorite to win the 2024 Big Ten Conference Women’s Soccer championship, based on the annual preseason poll released on Tuesday. The poll results were determined by a vote from the conference’s 18 head coaches. 

 

Ranked No. 11 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25 Poll, the Bruins were projected to finish first as part of their inaugural season in the Big Ten. In 2023, the Bruins won their 14th Pac-12 Conference title with a 10-0-1 conference record and a 16-2-1 record overall. UCLA returns seven starters, including All-American and two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Lilly Reale.  

 

Penn State was selected to finish second after ending the 2023 season with a 16-3-4 overall record, which included the program’s first National Quarterfinal appearance since 2018. The Nittany Lions extended their NCAA Tournament appearance streak to 29 consecutive bids, the second-longest active streak in the nation. Penn State was selected fourth in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25.  

 

Michigan State and Nebraska, who shared the Big Ten Championship in 2023, were projected to finish third and fourth, respectively. In the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25, Nebraska was selected sixth and Michigan State 13th

 

Also among the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25 were Wisconsin (19th), USC (23rd), Iowa (25th).  

 

The conference also unveiled the 2024 Big Ten Players to watch List on Tuesday, as selected by the league’s coaches. Included in the list are 20 student-athletes who earned all-conference recognition in 2023. Among last season’s honorees are 2023 Big Ten Midfielder of the Year Justina Gaynor from Michigan State, Goalkeeper of the Year Jamie Gerstenberg from Indiana and Freshman of the Year Bella Najera from Michigan State. Also on the list are Pac-12 Defender of the Year Lilly Reale from UCLA and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Maribel Flores of USC.  

 

The 2024 Big Ten Women’s Soccer season will kick off this week, as all 18 teams will take the pitch on Thursday, Aug. 15.  

 

The complete 2024 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll and Players to Watch List can be found below: 

 

2024 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll 

  1. UCLA 

  2. Penn State  

  3. Michigan State  

  4. Nebraska  

  5. USC 

  6. Wisconsin 

  7. Rutgers  

  8. Iowa  

  9. Ohio State  

  10. Indiana  

  11. Michigan 

  12. Northwestern 

  13. Washington 

  14. Minnesota 

  15. Illinois  

  16. Purdue  

  17. Maryland  

  18. Oregon  

 

2024 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Players to Watch 

Mya Archibald, So., D, Illinois 

Kennedy Berschel, Gr., MF, Illinois 

Ella Karolak, Sr., D, Illinois 

Jamie Gerstenberg, Sr., GK, Indiana 

Avery Snead, Gr., D, Indiana 

Piper Coffield, So., D, Indiana 

Sofia Bush, So., MF, Iowa  

Macy Enneking, Gr., GK, Iowa  

Millie Greer, So., D, Iowa 

Liz Beardsley, Sr., GK, Maryland 

Kennedy Bell, So., D, Maryland  

Lauren Wrigley, Sr., MF, Maryland 

Avery Kalitta, Sr., MF, Michigan 

Jenna Lang, Jr., MF, Michigan 

Stephanie Sparkowski, Gr., GK, Michigan 

Regan Dalton, Gr., MF, Michigan State 

Justina Gaynor, Gr., MF, Michigan State 

Bella Najera, So., F/MF, Michigan State  

Sophia Boman, Gr., MF, Minnesota  

Khyah Harper, Sr., F, Minnesota  

Sophia Romine, Gr., MF, Minnesota  

Florence Belzile, Sr., MF, Nebraska  

Sarah Weber, Sr., F, Nebraska  

Jordan Zade, Sr., D, Nebraska 

Josie Aulicino, Gr., MF, Northwestern 

Emma Phillips, Sr., D, Northwestern 

Caterina Regazzoni, Jr., MF, Northwestern 

Amanda Schlueter, So., F, Ohio State  

Sydney Jones, Sr., D, Ohio State  

Peyton McNamara, Sr., MF, Ohio State  

Haley McWhirter, Gr., MF, Oregon 

Livvy Moore, RS-So., MF, Oregon 

Makoto Nezu, Gr., MF, Oregon 

Olivia Borgen, Jr., MF, Penn State 

Kaitlyn MacBean, RS-Sr., F, Penn State 

Mieke Schiemann, Sr., D, Penn State  

Sydney Boudreau, Sr., D, Purdue 

Kayla Budish, Jr., F, Purdue 

Gracie Dunaway, Sr., F, Purdue 

Kassidy Banks, Sr., D, Rutgers 

Emily Mason, Sr., D, Rutgers 

Riley Tiernan, Sr., F, Rutgers 

Meg Boade, Gr., MF, UCLA 

Emma Egizii, Sr., MF, UCLA 

Lilly Reale, Sr., D, UCLA 

Maribel Flores, So., F, USC 

Kayla Colbert, Sr., F/D, USC 

Brooklyn Courtnall, Sr., D, USC 

Kelsey Branson, Jr., MF, Washington 

Kolo Suliafu, Jr., D, Washington 

Tatum Thomason, Jr., MF, Washington 

Hailey Baumann, So., D, Wisconsin 

Madison Ishaug, Sr., MF, Wisconsin 

Aryssa Mahrt, Gr., MF/F, Wisconsin