SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – With 61 total points and five first-place votes, Denver edged South Dakota State for the top spot in The Summit League women's soccer preseason coaches' poll released Tuesday by league officials. The Pioneers were just two points clear of the Jackrabbits (59 points) in a vote by all nine of the league’s head coaches.

The Pioneers, who have won the last six regular season titles, will be looking to get back to the tournament title game for the first since 2021. A year ago DU recorded a 9-2-7 ledger and a 5-1-2 league mark under the direction of first-year head coach Julianne Sitch.

South Dakota State, the 2023 Summit League Tournament champions, held the second spot in the preseason rankings after the Jackrabbits garnered three first-place votes. Head coach Brock Thompson has led SDSU to tournament titles in three of the last five seasons.

The Omaha Mavericks completed the top three in this year’s poll with 50 total points and the remaining first-place vote. Oral Roberts (43), South Dakota (32), Kansas City (26), North Dakota State (24), St. Thomas (15) and North Dakota (14) rounded out the 2024 poll.
 

2024 Summit League Women's Scocer Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank	School	Points (1st)	2023 Record (SL)
1.	Denver	61 (5)	9-2-7 (5-1-2, 34 pts.)
2.	South Dakota State	59 (3)	13-4-3 (4-1-3, 42 pts.)
3.	Omaha	50 (1)	7-5-7 (3-1-4, 28 pts.)
4.	Oral Roberts	43	8-7-4 (4-3-1, 28 pts.)
5.	South Dakota	32	7-7-4 (3-4-1, 25 pts.)
6.	Kansas City	26	3-7-8 (2-3-3, 17 pts.)
7.	North Dakota State	24	5-6-6 (1-3-4, 21 pts.)
8.	St. Thomas	15	6-8-3 (2-6-1, 7 pts.)
9.	North Dakota	14	3-7-5 (1-5-2, 5 pts.

 
Players to Watch
Note: Players to Watch nominated by league’s head coaches
Jordan Crockett | Denver | Fifth Year | Defender
• 2023 All-Summit League First Team
• Played in all 18 matches where she totaled 1,587 minutes, a career-high for a single season
• Scored second game-winner of career against St. Thomas

Samantha Dreiling| Denver | Redshirt Junior | Midfielder
• 2023 All-Summit League Second Team, 2023 Summit League All-Newcomer Team, 2023 Summit League All-Academic Team
• Played in all 18 matches, scored two goals against South Dakota (Oct. 8)

Laney Murdzek | South Dakota State | Senior | Midfielder
• 2023 All-Summit League Second Team, 2023 Academic All-District Team, and 2023-24 Summit League Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence
• Started in all 20 matches for the Jackrabbits, finished second on the team in shots (35) and third in shots on goal (14)
• Shared the Summit League lead with five assists on the campaign

Katherine Jones | South Dakota State | Graduate | Midfielder/Defender
• 2023 Summit League Championship MVP and three-time Summit League All-Tournament Team (2021, 2022, 2023)
• Started in all 20 matches for the Jackrabbits, career-high of 1,508 minutes played
• Summit League Defensive Peak Performer of the Week (9/25/23)

Grace Ostergaard | Omaha | Graduate | Midfielder
• Four time All-Summit League honoree
• Tied program record with 75 consecutive starts and ranked second on team in minutes played (1,564)
• Recorded a career-high of five assists in 2023

Regan Zimmers | Omaha | Junior | Forward
• 2023 United Soccer Coaches First Team All-West Region
• Led defense to six shutouts and second lowest opponents’ scoring average in the Summit League(0.99 goals per game)
• Logged one goal, two assists, and 1,300 minutes played

Ariana Fresquez | Oral Roberts | Graduate | Defender/Forward
• Played in 16 games, logging 661 minutes
• Recorded four assists, all of which came on set pieces
• Four shots and landed two on goal

Samantha Guzman | Oral Roberts | Junior | Midfielder
• Played in all 19 games with 13 starts
• Scored her second career game-winner in 5-1 win over South Dakota
• Recorded three goals and four assists on the season

Brooke Conway | South Dakota | Sophomore | Midfielder
• Started 18 matches, logging 1,247 minutes
• Tied for a team-high with five assists
• Scored first career goal and first multi-goal game against Idaho State (Sept.1) with two goals

Ashby Johnston | South Dakota | Graduate | Forward
• 2023 All-Summit League Second Team
• Started all 18 games and ranked second on team for minutes played (1,595)
• Recorded team-high of eight goals, had her first multi-goal game vs. St. Thomas

Sophia Limongi | Kansas City | Graduate | Defender
• 2023 All-Summit League Honorable Mention
• Started all 18 games, logging 1,206 minutes
• Played the full 90 minutes for the last 14 matches of the season

Brianna Castleberry | Kansas City | Redshirt Sophomore | Midfielder
• 2023 First Team All-Summit, Summit League All-Newcomer Team, Academic All-Summit League
• Ranked seventh in the Summit League and scored team-high six goals
• Started all 18 games, logging 1,033 minutes

Amaya Garret | North Dakota State | Sophomore | Defender/Midfielder
• 2023 Summit League All-Newcomer Team
• Started all 17 games, logging 1,483 minutes
• Two game winning goals at Coastal Carolina (Aug.31) and against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Sept.15)

Olivia Watson | North Dakota State | Senior | Midfielder
• 2023 CSC Academic All-District Team
• Played 16 games with 14 starts and 1,162 minutes
• Had 4 goals on 35 shots and 16 shots on goal for the season

Mariah Nguyen | St. Thomas | Senior | Forward/Midfielder
• 2023-24 Summit League Honor Roll and 2023-24 Summit League Commissioner’s List
• Led the Tommies in goals (5), points(12), and shots on goal(13)
• 2023 Summit League Offensive Peak Performer (8/21/23)

Olivia Rowe | St. Thomas | Senior | Goalkeeper
• 2023 Summit League Defensive Player of the Week (8/28/23)
• Started all 15 matches, logging 1,326 minutes
• Recorded 71 saves and five shutouts in 2023

Mary Gasaway | North Dakota | Senior | Defender
• 2023 All-Summit League Second Team
• Started all 18 games, logging 1,620 minutes
• Assisted in North Dakota’s second-best shutout percentage (44.4%) in the Summit League  

Amelia Loeffler | North Dakota | Junior | Defender
• 2023 All-Summit League First Team
• Led the Fighting Hawks in shots (34) and shots on goal (21)
• Ranked first in the Summit League with shot accuracy (0.618) and second in goals scored (8)


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