Coming off of the first Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship in program history, the Valpo soccer team has been picked to finish in second place in the Valley in 2023, according to preseason polling of the conference’s head coaches. Four Beacons earned preseason All-Valley distinction as well, including a trio of First Team honorees — Nikki Coryell (Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley), Lindsey DuSatko (Plainfield, Ill./North) and Nicole Norfolk (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Divine Savior Holy Angels).

Valpo returns 18 letterwinners, including nine starters, from last year's squad which claimed the MVC regular season title. The returnees accounted for 16 of the Beacon's 19 goals and 17 of their 18 assists in Valley play last season.

The Beacons picked up one first-place vote in the preseason poll and tallied 107 points in the polling, coming in only behind Missouri State — last season’s MVC tournament champion. Valpo far outpaced third-place UIC, which accumulated 92 points.

Coryell returns in 2023 coming off of her third consecutive MVC Goalkeeper of the Year honor. Coryell and the Valpo defense surrendered just five goals in 10 MVC matches last season and posted five shutouts — matching the program record for the most clean sheets within conference play in a single season.

DuSatko is a two-time All-Conference honoree, earning Second Team recognition as a sophomore in 2021 before stepping up to the First Team last season. The senior helped Valpo claim the regular season title last year with six points in Valley play, notching a goal and four assists — tied for second among MVC players in assists in conference-only play.

A stalwart at center back, Norfolk is back for her fifth year in the Valpo uniform. A First Team All-MVC selection in 2022 after receiving Second Team recognition in 2021, Norfolk also received Third Team All-Midwest Region honors last season. While she suffered an injury in mid-October which snapped a streak of 65 consecutive starts, the defense was stellar with her on the pitch, as the Beacons surrendered just one goal in Valley play with Norfolk on the field.

Junior forward Addy Joiner (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) received preseason Honorable Mention All-MVC recognition as well. A First Team All-MVC selection last season, Joiner tallied a team-best seven goals last season, good for second in the Valley. She shared the conference lead in MVC-only play with six goals in Valley action, one apiece over six of the Beacons’ seven MVC wins.

Coryell, DuSatko, Norfolk and Joiner open the regular season with their teammates on Thursday evening at Brown Field, as Valpo hosts Eastern Illinois at 7:30 p.m.