NORMAL, Ill. – Fifth-year senior Ashley Santos and junior Michaela Kirschten were named preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference as the Illinois State soccer program was picked to finish second in the MVC, as revealed by the conference's poll conducted of the league's coaches.
The Redbirds, which finished tied for fourth in the spring 2021 campaign, received 70 points in the poll while reigning MVC Tournament and regular season champions Loyola Chicago earned 80 points and eight of the nine first place votes.
Illinois State is coming off a 4-7-1 spring 2021 campaign in which five players earned All-MVC accolades. In addition to being named All-MVC First Team, Santos was also named a CoSIDA Academic All-American, MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team. Kirschten was All-MVC Second Team in the spring 2021 season.
Illinois State is scheduled to open the season at Eastern Michigan on August 19 before its home opener against Illinois on August 22.
MVC STANDINGS, AS PROJECTED BY THE LEAGUE'S COACHES
1. Loyola (8) 80
2. Illinois State 70
3. Indiana State 59
4. Valparaiso (1) 51
5. Missouri State 38
UNI 38
7. Drake 31
8. Evansville 21
9. Southern Illinois 12
PRESEASON ALL-MVC STUDENT-ATHLETES, AS SELECTED BY THE LEAGUE'S COACHES
FIRST TEAM
GK Nikki Coryell, Valparaiso
D Alaina Abel, Loyola
D Emilie Hill, Evansville
D Michaela Kirschten, Illinois State
D/M Aly Kilburg, Loyola
M Jacqueline Baetz, Missouri State
M Chloee Kooker, Indiana State
M Ashley Santos, Illinois State
M Abby Swanson, Loyola
M CeCe Wahlberg, Indiana State
M/F Megan Nemec, Loyola
F Kiley Dugan, Valparaiso
HONORABLE MENTION
GK Caitlin Richards, UNI
D Isabel Burke, Missouri State
D Kloe Pettigrew, Indiana State
D Sandra Thiman, UNI
F/M Anna Durnin, Missouri State
F/M Kennady Orlick, Missouri State
F Lauren Heinsch, UNI
F Kelsie James, Valparaiso
For all latest on Illinois State soccer, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com and follow the team at @Redbird_Soccer (Twitter, Facebook) and @RedbirdSoccer on Instagram.
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