HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women’s soccer team has been picked second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference preseason coaches poll.

Defending GLVC champion Wisconsin-Parkside was tabbed the favorite by the coaches with a total of 13 first-place votes and 169 points. The Rangers posted an 18-2 record last season and defeated NKU in the GLVC Tournament championship game.

NKU, 15-5-1 last season and 9-1 in the GLVC, received 153 total points and one first-place vote. Southern Illinois at Edwardsville was third with 145 points, while Bellarmine (110) and Drury (105) round out the top five in the poll.

NKU returns its top five scorers from last season’s squad that advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the sixth consecutive year. Senior forward Kristen Votapek scored a team-leading 11 goals last season and added eight assists. Votapek earned first team All-GLVC and All-Region honors as a junior.

She will be joined in the lineup by three other All-GLVC performers in Amy Martini, Katie Hanck and Amy Law. The backfield returns senior defender Ashley McGuffey, a three-year starter.

NKU opens the season Aug. 27 with a 7 p.m. home match against Lincoln Memorial at the Town & Country Sports Complex in Wilder, Ky.

GLVC women’s soccer preseason poll

1. Wisconsin-Parkside (169)
2. Northern Kentucky (153)
3. Southern Illinois at Edwardsville (145)
4. Bellarmine (110)
5. Drury (105)
6. Rockhurst (104)
7. Missouri-St. Louis (100)
8. Saint Joseph’s (89)
9. Indianapolis (86)
10. Quincy (74)
11. Southern Indiana (53)
12. Missouri-Rolla (37)
13. Lewis (32)
14. Kentucky Wesleyan College (17)