The Valparaiso University women's soccer team has been selected to finish in third place in the Mid-Continent Conference standings according to the preseason poll selected by the league's head coaches.

Head coach Stephen Anthony's team, which finished in second place last season, earned one first place vote and 26 total points in the balloting. Oakland has been tabbed as the preseason favorite, followed by Oral Roberts and the Crusaders. Centenary, the newest member of the Mid-Con, was picked fourth, followed by Southern Utah, IUPUI, and Western Illinois.

Valpo finished 2002 with a 5-13-1 record overall and a 4-1 mark in conference action.

The Brown and Gold will open their 2003 regular season on Friday evening when they travel to Chicago, Ill. to face Loyola (Ill.). Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.

2003 Mid-Continent Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Oakland (6) - 36
2. Oral Roberts - 30
3. Valparaiso (1) - 26
4. Centenary - 23
5. Southern Utah - 15
6. IUPUI - 13
7. Western Illinois - 8
(First place votes in parentheses)