The Westminster Women's Soccer team tied for second in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Blue Jays earned a total of 67 points and one first place vote.
Webster University was tabbed number one with 78 points and eight first place votes. Spalding University tied with Westminster for second, and Greenville College fell fourth on the list with 60 points and the remaining first place vote.
The Blue Jays return to the field after making program history last season. The 2015 Blue Jays defeated Webster University in penalty kicks in the conference tournament's championship game to earn the program's first ever bid to the NCAA Tournament. They entered the conference tournament as the number three seed with a 7-2 conference record. They lost to Illinois Wesleyan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, closing out their season with a 10-7-2 record.
The Blue Jays lost eight players, including five starters. Top returners include a pair of juniors in Abby Rockers and Morgan Henry. Rockers, a defender, earned First Team All-Conference honors last year and was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Henry, a midfielder, led the Blue Jays with 12 goals last season and earned First Team All-Conference honors. Westminster also brings back three year starter in net, Ellen Woolsey. They bring in eight freshmen and one transfer.
The 2016 season begins on Saturday, September 3, at Knox College, and they host Millikin University on September 10 for the home-opener.
