Loyola, the three-time defending MVC women's soccer regular-season and three-time defending tournament champion, has been tabbed in a vote of the league's nine head coaches as the favorite to repeat as champion during the 2021 season. The Ramblers received eight of nine first-place votes and 80 total points in the poll.



Indiana State is the third choice, taking 59 total points, while 2020-21 MVC Tournament runner-up Valparaiso is picked fourth and received one first-place vote among its 51 total points. Missouri State (38), UNI (38), Drake (31), Evansville (21), and Southern Illinois (12) round out the voting.

2021 MVC PRESEASON WOMEN'S SOCCER POLL

1	Loyola Chicago (8)	80
2	Illinois State	70
3	Indiana State	59
4	Valparaiso (1)	51
5	Missouri State	38
5	UNI	38
7	Drake	31
8	Evansville	21
9	Southern Illinois	12

The coaches have voted 12 players representing six teams to the 2021 preseason All-MVC Women's Soccer Team. Six additional student-athletes were named to the league's honorable-mention unit, by virtue of minimum number of votes received.

2021 MVC PRESEASON WOMEN'S SOCCER  FIRST TEAM
GK Nikki Coryell, Valparaiso
D Alaina Abel, Loyola
D Emilie Hill, Evansville
D Michaela Kirschten, Illinois State
D/M Aly Kilburg, Loyola
M Jacqueline Baetz, Missouri State
M Chloee Kooker, Indiana State
M Ashley Santos, Illinois State
M Abby Swanson, Loyola
M CeCe Wahlberg, Indiana State
M/F Megan Nemec, Loyola
F Kiley Dugan, Valparaiso

2021 MVC PRESEASON WOMEN'S SOCCER HONORABLE MENTION
GK Caitlin Richards, UNI
D Isabel Burke, Missouri State
D Kloe Pettigrew, Indiana State
D Sandra Thiman, UNI
F/M Anna Durnin, Missouri State
F/M Kennady Orlick, Missouri State
F Lauren Heinsch, UNI
F Kelsie James, Valparaiso

The season will culminate with the MVC Women's Soccer Championship, which will feature the top six seeds. Opening-round matches featuring seeds 3-4-5-6 will occur Oct. 31 at the site of the higher seed, and the "Final Four" will take place at the site of the regular-season champ (top seed) on Nov. 5 & 7.