HUDSONVILLE, Mich. – In a preseason poll of nine Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) women's soccer coaches, Calvin University was predicted to snag the regular-season title for the third-straight year after receiving four first-place votes and a total of 15 points.

The preseason poll for MIAA women's soccer awards one point for a first-place vote, two points for a second-place vote, etc.  Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own programs.

Hope College finished the rankings just behind the Knights with 17 points and two first-place votes.  Trine University placed third in the poll, receiving two first-place votes and 20 points.  Albion College recorded the final first-place vote and landed in fourth with 24 points.  Kalamazoo College was predicted to finish the season fifth after garnering 37 points.  Adrian College tallied 41 points for the sixth-place slot, followed by Alma College in seventh place with 51 points.  Rounding out the nine teams, Saint Mary's College (59 points) edged Olivet College (60 points) by a point to secure eighth place in the rankings.

Calvin earned a league record of 7-1 (14-4-1 overall) last season.  A quartet of all-conference juniors will headline the Knights' roster.  Two-time All-MIAA forward Sophie Mueller returns to the squad after being selected the 2021 MIAA Most Valuable Player, along with First Team All-MIAA midfielder Kaitlyn Van Laare.  Forward Elizabeth Williams and defender Rory Pruis will also be featured on Calvin's roster after being placed on the All-MIAA Second Team last season and becoming two-time all-conference honorees.

After a 5-2-1 mark in conference contests last year, Hope won the 2021 MIAA Women's Soccer Tournament.  The Flying Dutch will look to two-time First Team All-MIAA defender Jenna Mustapha, who is returning for her junior year.  Hope concluded the season with an overall record of 13-5-2.

Trine wrapped up the 2021 regular season with a 5-3 mark in MIAA competition and an overall record of 15-5-2.  The Thunder returns all three 2021 All-MIAA honorees, including First Team All-MIAA forward Teresa Ashbrook in her sophomore season.  Senior midfielder Olivia Butterworth and sophomore goalkeeper Sophie Aschemeier will also be returning to the Trine team after both being named to the All-MIAA Second Team last year.

Albion concluded 2021 with a league record of 5-2-1 (10-3-2 overall).  The Brits return one-hundred percent of their 2021 All-MIAA honorees which includes two-time First Team All-MIAA senior midfielder Rayna Edwards.  Also returning from the 2021 All-MIAA First Team are defender McKenna Graham and goalie Romee Natschke, both for their senior season.  Two Albion players from the 2021 All-MIAA Second Team will return, including junior forward Avery Campbell and senior midfielder Megan Loney.

Kalamazoo made a 4-4 mark in conference contests last season and finished with an overall record of 10-6.  The Hornets will look to junior forward Destiny Garcia during the 2022 campaign.  Garcia is a two-time All-MIAA recipient, which includes a spot on the Second Team in 2021.

Adrian went 5-3 in MIAA contests last season and 10-9 overall.  The Bulldogs' roster will be headlined by a duo of 2021 All-MIAA honorees, including forward Eve Davis who was selected to the First Team.  Midfielder Megan Louwers earned a spot on the 2021 All-MIAA Second Team.

Alma wrapped up 2021 with a league record of 3-5 and an overall record of 5-10.  This is the Scots first year under the leadership of head coach Kate Dylag.

Saint Mary's finished the previous season with a 1-7 mark in conference contests (8-9 overall), while Olivet finished with a league record of 0-8 (1-10 overall).  The Belles welcome head coach Farkhod Kurbonov in his first season at the helm of the program.

The 2022 women's soccer season gets underway Thursday, Sept. 1.  League play begins on Tuesday, September 27, with Alma hosting Kalamazoo at 4:00 p.m.  On September 28, Saint Mary's will host Trine, Olivet will host Calvin, and Adrian will host Hope all at 4:00 p.m.