The Valparaiso women’s soccer team has been chosen to finish in fifth place in the Horizon League preseason poll, as voted on by the league’s head coaches.

The Crusaders, who count their top two scorers from last season – Jenny Fassbinder and Rita Craven – and last year’s Horizon League Freshman of the Year – Morgan Manzke – among their 19 returnees, totaled 39 points in the preseason polling, in which coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.  Milwaukee claimed the top spot with 62 points and six first-place votes.

Valparaiso opens the regular season this Friday evening at Brown Field at 7:30 p.m. against Belmont.  The league slate begins for the Crusaders versus Oakland on Sept. 24.