Wayne, Neb. — The Wayne State College women’s soccer team was picked to finish 11th in the 2024 NSIC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll released Tuesday morning by the league office in Burnsville, Minnesota. Listed as Wildcats to Watch this season were junior midfielder Paige Pemberton and fifth-year midfielder Riann Daas.
Wayne State finished 10th in the NSIC last season with records of 7-8-3 overall (most wins since 2016) and had a league record of 5-6-3. The Wildcats collected 70 points in voting conducted by league coaches.
Minnesota State was voted as the team to beat this season with 10 first-place votes and 186 points followed by defending NSIC regular season champion St. Cloud State in second at 179 points and four first-place ballots. Bemidji State was next in third with 170 points while the University of Mary received the final first-place vote and was fourth at 151 points.
Augustana came in fifth at 147 points with Concordia-St. Paul (137), Northern State (129), Minnesota Duluth (97), Minot State (84) and Southwest Minnesota State (76 points) rounding out the top 10.
Wayne State was 11th with 70 points followed by Winona State (63), Sioux Falls (46), MSU Moorhead (36) and Minnesota Crookston (18) closing out the poll.
Pemberton, a 5-6 junior midfielder from Lee’s Summit, Missouri (Lee’s Summit West HS), was selected as Wayne State’s Offensive Player to Watch. Last season she earned All-NSIC Second Team honors recording two goals, both game-winning goals, and two assists while ranking third on the team in shots (18) and shots on goal (11).
Wayne State’s Defensive Player to Watch is fifth-year midfielder Riann Daas from Rush City, Minnesota (Chisago Lakes HS). She is a three-year starter for the Wildcats and last season ranked third on the team in minutes played (1,475) while credited with one assist and 13 shots with six on goal. Daas helped a Wildcat defense record seven shutouts last season.
Wayne State opens the 2024 season on Thursday, September 5 hosting Northwestern Oklahoma State in a non-conference game starting at 3 p.m. at the WSC Soccer Pitch.
2024 NSIC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll
- Minnesota State (10) 186 pts.
- St. Cloud State (4) 179 pts.
- Bemidji State 170 pts.
- University of Mary (1) 151 pts.
- Augustana 147 pts.
- Concordia-St. Paul 137 pts.
- Northern State 129 pts.
- Minnesota Duluth 97 pts.
- Minot State 84 pts.
- Southwest Minnesota State 76 pts.
- Wayne State 70 pts.
- Winona State 63 pts.
- Sioux Falls 46 pts.
- MSU Moorhead 36 pts.
- Minnesota Crookston 18 pts.
