ST. LOUIS - The 2008 Missouri Valley Conference preseason soccer poll was released on Tuesday and Illinois State was picked to finish in second place. The Redbirds received 37 points to finish just behind Creighton and received two first-place votes, the second-most in the conference, in the poll conducted by the league's coaches. The Redbirds also had two players named to the preseason all-conference team.
Head coach Drew Roff was pleased with the prognostication, but knows that the performance his team has on the field this season will not be dictated by it.
"It's great to be picked second in the conference by the coaches because they think highly of our team and what we are capable of, but I try not to put too much stock into preseason polls," said Roff. "Last season we were projected to finish fifth and ended up winning the conference. I was a little surprised we were picked second, since we have one senior and are a relatively young team. The Missouri Valley Conference is going to be very tough again this season and there are a few teams capable of winning the title. We are just focusing on getting better every week so that when conference play begins we are prepared to make another run at it."
Creighton was the pick to win the conference with 46 points, including four first-place votes. Right behind Illinois State was Evansville with 35 points and Missouri State, who earned the other first-place votes, with 32. Drake came in fifth place with 24 points and Indiana State and Northern Iowa tied for sixth with 11 points.
Junior back Danielle Mutters and junior midfielder Raquel Rattray were both named to the Preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference Team, which was also voted on by the league's coaches. Rattray was a first-team All-Valley selection last season and Mutters earned second-team recognition. There were 12 players named to the preseason all-conference team and five honorable mention members. Creighton, Evansville and Missouri State each had three players on the all-conference team and Drake claimed the remaining spot.
Illinois State is coming off a 10-4-4 season in 2007. The Redbirds posted a 4-0-2 mark in Valley play to win the regular-season conference title for the first time since 2003. ISU lost to Creighton in penalty kicks in the State Farm MVC Tournament final and returns 12 letterwinners to this year's squad.
Illinois State opens the regular season against IPFW at Adelaide Street Field Friday at 3 p.m.
