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GLIAC -- The Saginaw Valley State University Women's Soccer program has been picked to finish in fourth place for the 2018 season in voting conducted by the GLIAC head coaches in the annual preseason coaches poll.
The Cardinals landed in the No. 4 spot after garnering 54 points, 14 away from third place Ferris State. Ashland was chosen second with 70 points while Grand Valley State was picked as the league favorite with 81 points and nine first-place nods.
2018 Saginaw Valley State Preview
The Saginaw Valley State University Women's Soccer team looks to build upon the late success of the 2017 season, where the Cardinals advanced to the GLIAC Tournament Championship Match for the fourth time ever. SVSU will rely on a strong foundation of returners as the team gets set for the 2018 campaign.
All-GLIAC First Teamer and All-Midwest Region honoree Molly Vanderhoff returns for her junior season at the forward position, helping lead the offense after recording four goals and five assists last season, ranking second on the squad with 13 points. Fellow junior Valentina Giambanco returns as well after leading the Cardinals in 2017 with 17 points, scoring seven goals and adding three assists. Anchoring the defense will be All-GLIAC First Team and All-Midwest Region defender Jennifer Muana, who enters her third season on the back line for Saginaw Valley. She will be joined by senior Samantha Dunn, who started 17 games alongside her on the defensive end last season. Brianna Bishop, Lindsay Stroebel, Mallory Hestwood, Amanda Minissale, Whitney Fleming and Sakura Bals all return as well after starting at least nine games last season for the Cards.
SVSU gets its 2018 season underway on the road in Columbus, Ohio, where it will face Ohio Dominican (8/31) and Alderson Broaddus (9/2). The GLIAC slate of matches begin at home on September 14 with a noon matchup against Ferris State.