PREVIEW: UWS women's soccer team picked to finish ninth in WIAC

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the two-time defending conference champion, is expected to capture the 2012 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women’s soccer title according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s sports information directors.

The Warhawks received six first-place votes in WIAC projections and are ranked No. 23 nationally.

in a NCAA Division III preseason poll distributed by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

The University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets were picked to finish ninth in the nine-team conference.

They welcome back seven starters from a year ago, including sophomore Chelsea Cossin, Hermantown, who was the team’s leader with 15 goals and 13 points.

The 2011 squad posted eight victories, which were the most since a 10-win campaign in 2006, and compiled a three-match winning streak — the second-longest in program history.

The Yellowjackets established a school record for goals in a match with 11 against Mount Mary College (Wis.) on Oct. 1, 2011.

Melissa Nelmark begins her fifth season as head coach at UWS with an overall record of 17-58-1.

UWS returns 12 letterwinners, including seven starters. They lost four letterwinners, all starters.

The Yellowjackets open their season by hosting St. Catherine at 4 p.m. on Aug. 31 at Duluth Public School Stadium.

2012 Preseason Predictions

1. UW-Whitewater (6) 14-5-3 6-1-1

2. UW-Eau Claire (2) 10-6-4 4-3-1

3. UW-Oshkosh 12-7-4 5-3-0

4. UW-Stevens Point (1) 11-8-0 4-4-0

5. UW-La Crosse 10-6-2 5-1-2

6. UW-Stout 11-5-1 5-3-0

7. UW-River Falls 6-13-0 3-5-0

8. UW-Platteville 8-10-1 2-6-0

9. UW-SUPERIOR 8-11-0 0-8-0

( )—First-place votes

2012 UW-Superior

Women’s Soccer Schedule

Fri., Aug. 31 vs. St. Catherine’s (PSS), 4 p.m.

Tue., Sept. 4 at Crown College, 4 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 8 vs. Minnesota-Morris, noon

Wed., Sept. 12 at Finlandia, 3 p.m. (CST)

Sat. Sept. 15 vs. Oshkosh (PSS), 1 p.m.

Wed., Sept. 19 at UW-River Falls, 4 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 22 at UW-Stout, 2 p.m.

Tue., Sept. 25 vs. Bethany Luthern, 2:30 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 29 vs. Stevens Point (PSS) 2 p.m.

Mon., Oct. 1 vs. UW-Eau Claire, 4 p.m.

Wed., Oct. 3 vs. North Central, 4 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 6 vs. UW-Whitewater (PSS), 2 p.m.

Tue., Oct. 9 at Hamline, 4 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 12 vs. Finlandia, 4 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 13 at UW-La Crosse, 3 p.m.

Tue., Oct. 16 at Northland College, 4 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 20 vs. Ripon, 11 a.m.

Fri., Oct. 26 at Alverno, 1:30 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 27 at UW-Platteville, noon

Sun., Oct. 28 at Mount Mary, noon

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