Coming off of a perfect run through the Horizon League schedule in 2014, culminating with the program’s first Horizon League regular season and tournament championships, the Valparaiso women’s soccer team is a unanimous choice to finish atop the league table again in 2015, according to preseason polling of the league’s head coaches.

The Crusaders received all nine possible first-place votes, as head coaches were not allowed to rank their own team, to finish with 81 points. Oakland received the remaining first-place vote and was ranked second with 63 points, narrowly edging out Detroit with 60 points.

This year’s Crusader squad boasts eight returning starters from last year’s league champion side, and returns the top six scorers from last season as well. The regular season kicks off Friday night at 6:30 p.m. CT at #9 Notre Dame, while the Horizon League slate begins Friday, Sept. 18 on Brown Field against Wright State.