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BAY CITY, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University women’s soccer team was selected to finish third in the annual Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) preseason coaches’ poll. SVSU recorded 35 points, finishing behind Tiffin University (2nd, 37 pts.) and Grand Valley State University (1st, 49 pts.) in the voting. The Lady Cardinals finished last season third in the GLIAC after a runner-up showing in the 2008 conference tournament. They lost to GVSU, 2-0, in the title match. SVSU looks to improve upon their 2008 regular season record of 8-6 and, once again, challenge the reigning conference champions, Grand Valley State University.

The head women soccer coaches of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) chose Grand Valley State University, defending league champions, to win the 2009 GLIAC women’s soccer title in preseason balloting.

The league’s eight head coaches participated in the balloting, but were not allowed to vote for their team. The first-place team on each ballot received seven points, while second received six points, etc.

The Lakers outdistanced Tiffin University by 12 points in the voting (49-37) and garnered seven first-place votes. GVSU has won 27 consecutive conference matches (t-3rd in Division II history) dating back to Sept. 29, 2006. The Lakers return first-team All-American Natalja Stanski and enter the season ranked #9 in the NCSAA Division II poll.

Tiffin posted a second best league record in 2008 and received the lone remaining first-place nod for a second place poll finish.

Ferris State University tallied 29 points and finished in fifth place sailing over sixth place the University of Findlay by ten points.

Ashland University finished two points ahead of Northwood University for eighth place (13-11) to round out the poll.

The 2008 season saw #1 Grand Valley advance the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Championship match. The Lakers lost to #8 University of Wisconsin-Parkside by the score 1-0, for their only loss of the season. Tiffin also advanced to the NCAA tournament, falling to Quincy University (Ill.), 1-1 (2OT), in the NCAA D-II Midwest Region first round.

GLIAC women’s soccer teams open play on Thursday, Aug. 27 with conference play beginning Sunday, Sept. 13. The 2009 GLIAC Women’s Soccer Tournament will begin with quarterfinals on Nov. 3 on campus site, with the semifinals and final held on Nov. 6 & 8 on the campus of the No. 1 seed.