ST. LOUIS -- Illinois State goalkeeper Madi Valenti and defender Grace Petrie were selected to the Missouri Valley's Preseason All-Conference team on Tuesday afternoon.
Valenti is coming off a stellar sophomore season in which she earned MVC Goalkeeper of the Year and United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women's All-Midwest Region Third Team honors. Valenti recorded 12 shutouts between the sticks in 2025, which is the most in MVC and Illinois State history. She also tallied 86 saves last season, a career-best and seventh most in a season by a Redbird. In late July, Valenti was named to the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women's Players to Watch list for the 2026 season.
Petrie started in all 22 games during her inaugural season with the Redbirds, tallying the most minutes played by a freshman since Kate Del Fava in 2016. An MVC All-Freshman team selection in 2025, Petrie's stout defensive play helped Illinois State tally 13 shutouts, setting a new Redbird record and tying the MVC record for the most in a season.
The league office also announced its preseason team poll. After making a run to the MVC title game in 2025, Illinois State was picked to finish second behind the Drake Bulldogs. The Redbirds received 83 total votes, including two first-place votes.
2026 MVC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Drake (7) ..96
2. Illinois State (2) .. 83
3. UIC .. 77
4. Murray State (1) .. 69
5. Southern Illinois .. 59
6. Indiana State .. 58
