Big Ten Women’s Soccer 2024 Preseason Poll and Players to Watch List revealed

ROSEMONT, Ill. – UCLA has been chosen as the favorite to win the 2024 Big Ten Conference Women’s Soccer championship, based on the annual preseason poll released on Tuesday. The poll results were determined by a vote from the conference’s 18 head coaches.

Ranked No. 11 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25 Poll, the Bruins were projected to finish first as part of their inaugural season in the Big Ten. In 2023, the Bruins won their 14^th Pac-12 Conference title with a 10-0-1 conference record and a 16-2-1 record overall. UCLA returns seven starters, including All-American and two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Lilly Reale.

Penn State was selected to finish second after ending the 2023 season with a 16-3-4 overall record, which included the program’s first National Quarterfinal appearance since 2018. The Nittany Lions extended their NCAA Tournament appearance streak to 29 consecutive bids, the second-longest active streak in the nation. Penn State was selected fourth in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25.

Michigan State and Nebraska, who shared the Big Ten Championship in 2023, were projected to finish third and fourth, respectively. In the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25, Nebraska was selected sixth and Michigan State 13^th

Also among the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25 were Wisconsin (19^th), USC (23^rd), Iowa (25^th).

The conference also unveiled the 2024 Big Ten Players to watch List on Tuesday, as selected by the league’s coaches. Included in the list are 20 student-athletes who earned all-conference recognition in 2023. Among last season’s honorees are 2023 Big Ten Midfielder of the Year Justina Gaynor from Michigan State, Goalkeeper of the Year Jamie Gerstenberg from Indiana and Freshman of the Year Bella Najera from Michigan State. Also on the list are Pac-12 Defender of the Year Lilly Reale from UCLA and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Maribel Flores of USC.

The 2024 Big Ten Women’s Soccer season will kick off this week, as all 18 teams will take the pitch on Thursday, Aug. 15.

The complete 2024 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll and Players to Watch List can be found below:

2024 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll

1. UCLA
2. Penn State
3. Michigan State
4. Nebraska
5. USC
6. Wisconsin
7. Rutgers
8. Iowa
9. Ohio State
10. Indiana
11. Michigan
12. Northwestern
13. Washington
14. Minnesota
15. Illinois
16. Purdue
17. Maryland
18. Oregon

2024 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Players to Watch

• Mya Archibald, So., D, Illinois
• Kennedy Berschel, Gr., MF, Illinois
• Ella Karolak, Sr., D, Illinois
• Jamie Gerstenberg, Sr., GK, Indiana
• Avery Snead, Gr., D, Indiana
• Piper Coffield, So., D, Indiana
• Sofia Bush, So., MF, Iowa
• Macy Enneking, Gr., GK, Iowa
• Millie Greer, So., D, Iowa
• Liz Beardsley, Sr., GK, Maryland
• Kennedy Bell, So., D, Maryland
• Lauren Wrigley, Sr., MF, Maryland
• Avery Kalitta, Sr., MF, Michigan
• Jenna Lang, Jr., MF, Michigan
• Stephanie Sparkowski, Gr., GK, Michigan
• Regan Dalton, Gr., MF, Michigan State
• Justina Gaynor, Gr., MF, Michigan State
• Bella Najera, So., F/MF, Michigan State
• Sophia Boman, Gr., MF, Minnesota
• Khyah Harper, Sr., F, Minnesota
• Sophia Romine, Gr., MF, Minnesota
• Florence Belzile, Sr., MF, Nebraska
• Sarah Weber, Sr., F, Nebraska
• Jordan Zade, Sr., D, Nebraska
• Josie Aulicino, Gr., MF, Northwestern
• Emma Phillips, Sr., D, Northwestern
• Caterina Regazzoni, Jr., MF, Northwestern
• Amanda Schlueter, So., F, Ohio State
• Sydney Jones, Sr., D, Ohio State
• Peyton McNamara, Sr., MF, Ohio State
• Haley McWhirter, Gr., MF, Oregon
• Livvy Moore, RS-So., MF, Oregon
• Makoto Nezu, Gr., MF, Oregon
• Olivia Borgen, Jr., MF, Penn State
• Kaitlyn MacBean, RS-Sr., F, Penn State
• Mieke Schiemann, Sr., D, Penn State
• Sydney Boudreau, Sr., D, Purdue
• Kayla Budish, Jr., F, Purdue
• Gracie Dunaway, Sr., F, Purdue
• Kassidy Banks, Sr., D, Rutgers
• Emily Mason, Sr., D, Rutgers
• Riley Tiernan, Sr., F, Rutgers
• Meg Boade, Gr., MF, UCLA
• Emma Egizii, Sr., MF, UCLA
• Lilly Reale, Sr., D, UCLA
• Maribel Flores, So., F, USC
• Kayla Colbert, Sr., F/D, USC
• Brooklyn Courtnall, Sr., D, USC
• Kelsey Branson, Jr., MF, Washington
• Kolo Suliafu, Jr., D, Washington
• Tatum Thomason, Jr., MF, Washington
• Hailey Baumann, So., D, Wisconsin
• Madison Ishaug, Sr., MF, Wisconsin
• Aryssa Mahrt, Gr., MF/F, Wisconsin