BAY CITY, Mich. - Saginaw Valley State University womens soccer team was picked to finish second in the GLIAC this year behind Grand Valley State University in the annual preseason coaches poll. The Cardinals are coming off of a season where they finished 9-6-1 and lost in the second round of the GLIAC Tournament, and are looking to contend for the conference championship this year.

GVSU earned a maximum of 49 points and all seven first-place votes it was eligible for. The Lakers outdistanced second-place Saginaw Valley State University by eight points. Grand Valley State, the three-time defending league champion, posted an 8-0-0 record in league play in 2007. That marked the first time since 2004 that a GLIAC team went undefeated in league play.

The Cardinals, who placed fourth in the 2007 GLIAC regular season, recorded 37 points in the balloting. Northern Michigan University and GLIAC newcomer Tiffin University tied for third place in the poll after each team carded 30 points. NMU, a team that placed sixth in last year’s regular season standings, picked up the lone remaining first-place nod.

The Dragons, entering their first season in the GLIAC, posted an 11-6-1 record playing as a Division II independent. Tiffin earned a 4-2-1 mark against GLIAC competition in 2007. The University of Findlay fell one point shy of making it a three-way tie as the Oilers garnered 29 points to finish fifth. UF placed third in GLIAC regular season play in 2007. Ashland University edged out Ferris State University for sixth place in the poll by a 22-19 count. Northwood University rounded out the poll in eighth place with seven points.

In 2008 Coach Drago Dumbovic returns for his sixth season at the Cardinals’ helm. Also returning this season is the team’s leading scorer and second-team All-GLIAC selection Stephanie Roy (Royal Oak, Mich./Dondero HS), who recorded 27 points last season, good for sixth in the conference. Senior forward Kim Oberski (Port Huron, Mich.), who ranked fourth in the GLIAC in game-winning goals last season (4) also returns. Oberski’s nine goals and 21 points each ranked second on the squad.

The Cardinals open the 2008 season at home on August 29 against Indianapolis at 4:00 pm and conference play will beginning Sunday, Sept. 14. The 2008 GLIAC Women’s Soccer Championship quarterfinals will be held on Nov. 4, with the semifinals and final on Nov. 7 & 9 on the campus of the No. 1 seed.