2020 RSC Women's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll puts IU East as front-runner
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- The 2020 River States Conference Women's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll has identified Indiana University East as the front-runner for this year. The Red Wolves won their first conference championship last year and made the NAIA National Championship.
Voting was conducted by the 11 head coaches of RSC women's soccer. IU East received 8 of the 11 first-place votes and 98 total votes. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams. Asbury (Ky.) University came in second in the poll with 91 votes and two first-place votes. Ohio Christian University garnered the final first-place vote and was picked third with 77 votes.
IU East had a very strong season at 13-4-3 overall to lead the conference in total wins last year. The Red Wolves topped Asbury, 1-0, in the RSC Championship finals to punch their national ticket. IU East, which was 6-1-3 RSC last year, narrowly lost to powerhouse Spring Arbor (Mich.), 2-1, in the nationals opener.
Asbury won the RSC regular season title last year after being 9-10-1 overall, 7-2-1 RSC. The Eagles won the RSC championship the previous two years before IU East. Ohio Christian won 10 games last year at 10-6-2 and 6-2-2 RSC. The Trailblazers made it to the conference semifinals in 2019.
WVU Tech came in fourth in the poll with 69 votes. The Golden Bears are coming off a season of 6-6-3, 5-2-3 RSC. IU Kokomo was not far behind with 66 votes in fifth place. The Cougars were 7-8-3, 3-4-3 RSC in their debut season last year.
Point Park (Pa.) University came in sixth place as the final predicted playoff team with 52 votes. The Pioneers (7-12-1, 4-5-1 RSC) reached the RSC semifinals last year with a playoff victory. University of Rio Grande (Ohio) followed closely with 50 votes in seventh place.
Carlow (Pa.) University received 42 votes for eighth place followed by Midway (Ky.) University (30 votes), conference newcomer Oakland City (Ind.) University (16 votes) and Brescia (Ky.) University (14 votes).
2020 RSC WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES' POLL (AUG. 27)
(First-Place Votes in Parenthesis)
| School | Votes |
| 1. IU East (8) | 98 |
| 2. Asbury (Ky.) (2) | 91 |
| 3. Ohio Christian (1) | 77 |
| 4. WVU Tech | 69 |
| 5. IU Kokomo | 66 |
| 6. Point Park (Pa.) | 52 |
| 7. Rio Grande (Ohio) | 50 |
| 8. Carlow (Pa.) | 42 |
| 9. Midway (Ky.) | 30 |
| 10. Oakland City (Ind.) | 16 |
| 11. Brescia (Ky.) | 14 |