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

The Crusaders return 18 letterwinners from last year’s team, including five of their top seven scorers – highlighted by the return of two-time First Team All-League honoree April Cronin (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South), who paced the squad in 2015 with seven goals and 17 points. Valpo totaled 57 points in the preseason polling, in which coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team, to tie Wright State for fourth place. Oakland edged out Milwaukee by one point to top the preseason poll.

Valparaiso opens exhibition play next Tuesday, August 9 on the road at Western Illinois. The regular season kicks off on Friday, August 19 at IUPUI.