UCLA Selected as 2024 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Favorite
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ROSEMONT, Ill. – UCLA has been chosen as the favorite to win the 2024 Big Ten Conference Women’s Soccer championship, based on the annual preseason poll released on Tuesday. The poll results were determined by a vote from the conference’s 18 head coaches.
Ranked No. 11 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25 Poll, the Bruins were projected to finish first as part of their inaugural season in the Big Ten. In 2023, the Bruins won their 14th Pac-12 Conference title with a 10-0-1 conference record and a 16-2-1 record overall. UCLA returns seven starters, including All-American and two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Lilly Reale.
Penn State was selected to finish second after ending the 2023 season with a 16-3-4 overall record, which included the program’s first National Quarterfinal appearance since 2018. The Nittany Lions extended their NCAA Tournament appearance streak to 29 consecutive bids, the second-longest active streak in the nation. Penn State was selected fourth in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25.
Michigan State and Nebraska, who shared the Big Ten Championship in 2023, were projected to finish third and fourth, respectively. In the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25, Nebraska was selected sixth and Michigan State 13th
Also among the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25 were Wisconsin (19th), USC (23rd), Iowa (25th).
The conference also unveiled the 2024 Big Ten Players to watch List on Tuesday, as selected by the league’s coaches. Included in the list are 20 student-athletes who earned all-conference recognition in 2023. Among last season’s honorees are 2023 Big Ten Midfielder of the Year Justina Gaynor from Michigan State, Goalkeeper of the Year Jamie Gerstenberg from Indiana and Freshman of the Year Bella Najera from Michigan State. Also on the list are Pac-12 Defender of the Year Lilly Reale from UCLA and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Maribel Flores of USC.
The 2024 Big Ten Women’s Soccer season will kick off this week, as all 18 teams will take the pitch on Thursday, Aug. 15.
The complete 2024 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll and Players to Watch List can be found below:
2024 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll
UCLA
Penn State
Michigan State
Nebraska
USC
Wisconsin
Rutgers
Iowa
Ohio State
Indiana
Michigan
Northwestern
Washington
Minnesota
Illinois
Purdue
Maryland
Oregon
2024 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Players to Watch
Mya Archibald, So., D, Illinois
Kennedy Berschel, Gr., MF, Illinois
Ella Karolak, Sr., D, Illinois
Jamie Gerstenberg, Sr., GK, Indiana
Avery Snead, Gr., D, Indiana
Piper Coffield, So., D, Indiana
Sofia Bush, So., MF, Iowa
Macy Enneking, Gr., GK, Iowa
Millie Greer, So., D, Iowa
Liz Beardsley, Sr., GK, Maryland
Kennedy Bell, So., D, Maryland
Lauren Wrigley, Sr., MF, Maryland
Avery Kalitta, Sr., MF, Michigan
Jenna Lang, Jr., MF, Michigan
Stephanie Sparkowski, Gr., GK, Michigan
Regan Dalton, Gr., MF, Michigan State
Justina Gaynor, Gr., MF, Michigan State
Bella Najera, So., F/MF, Michigan State
Sophia Boman, Gr., MF, Minnesota
Khyah Harper, Sr., F, Minnesota
Sophia Romine, Gr., MF, Minnesota
Florence Belzile, Sr., MF, Nebraska
Sarah Weber, Sr., F, Nebraska
Jordan Zade, Sr., D, Nebraska
Josie Aulicino, Gr., MF, Northwestern
Emma Phillips, Sr., D, Northwestern
Caterina Regazzoni, Jr., MF, Northwestern
Amanda Schlueter, So., F, Ohio State
Sydney Jones, Sr., D, Ohio State
Peyton McNamara, Sr., MF, Ohio State
Haley McWhirter, Gr., MF, Oregon
Livvy Moore, RS-So., MF, Oregon
Makoto Nezu, Gr., MF, Oregon
Olivia Borgen, Jr., MF, Penn State
Kaitlyn MacBean, RS-Sr., F, Penn State
Mieke Schiemann, Sr., D, Penn State
Sydney Boudreau, Sr., D, Purdue
Kayla Budish, Jr., F, Purdue
Gracie Dunaway, Sr., F, Purdue
Kassidy Banks, Sr., D, Rutgers
Emily Mason, Sr., D, Rutgers
Riley Tiernan, Sr., F, Rutgers
Meg Boade, Gr., MF, UCLA
Emma Egizii, Sr., MF, UCLA
Lilly Reale, Sr., D, UCLA
Maribel Flores, So., F, USC
Kayla Colbert, Sr., F/D, USC
Brooklyn Courtnall, Sr., D, USC
Kelsey Branson, Jr., MF, Washington
Kolo Suliafu, Jr., D, Washington
Tatum Thomason, Jr., MF, Washington
Hailey Baumann, So., D, Wisconsin
Madison Ishaug, Sr., MF, Wisconsin
Aryssa Mahrt, Gr., MF/F, Wisconsin