Contact: Lou Groce, Director of Media and Information, 920-229-8157

GRINNELL, Iowa – The Midwest Conference (MWC) women’s soccer season kicks off on Thursday as eight programs play their first match, including preseason conference Lake Forest College.  The Foresters are gunning for their third straight MWC crown. 

Monmouth College and Illinois College open the conference schedule on September 10 when the Fighting Scots head to Jacksonville.  Monmouth is expected to qualify for the four-team MWC Tournament along with the Foresters, St. Norbert College and Knox College.  The MWC Tournament will be hosted by the regular season champion on November 4 and 5. 

Below is a team-by-team preview of all 10 MWC programs.

Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Nick Chapman (5^th season) 14-36-2, 6-23-1
2015: 7-9 overall, 4-6 MWC
2016 Projected MWC Finish: 8^th
Letterwinners Returning:  15
Starters Returning: 9
Returning All-MWC Performers: Genesis Dade So. F

Sophomore Genesis Dade burst on the scene last season and earned First Team All-Conference honors in her first season at Beloit.  Dade had the fourth-most goals (13) in single-season Buc history and had five game-winners.  Despite playing in just seven games last season, Courtney Ceurvost totaled nine points, which was good for third on the team and second-leading scorer Jordyn Murch is also back in Beloit’s lineup. 

Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Jose Fajardo (1^st season)
2015: 2-15 overall, 1-9 MWC
2016 Projected MWC Finish: 10^th  
Letterwinners Returning: 10
Starters Returning: 7

Cornell will have its third head coach in four seasons as Jose Fajardo takes over in Mount Vernon.  Fajardo’s rebuilding efforts will be boosted by the return of team MVP Deidre Franzen.  Franzen started all 17 matches last season and had two goals on 10 shots from her defender position.  As a freshman, Elisabeth Sage led the team with five goals, 10 points and 22 shots.  Keepers Tal Neilly and Emily Whitfield played significant minutes last season, with Neilly earning the bulk of the playing time.  Alex Place will team with Franzen on the defense after starting 16 matches in 2015.   

Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Kirsten Russell (3^rd season) 16-19-1, 9-10-1
2015: 6-11 overall, 3-7 MWC
2016 Projected MWC Finish:  9^th
Letterwinners Returning: 15
Starters Returning: 7

After a one-year absence from the MWC Tournament, Grinnell brings back seven starters from last season.  The loss of keeper Katy Oldach will be significant as she was a two-time First Team All-MWC selection and helped Grinnell become one of the best defenses in the MWC.  The Pioneers do, however, bring back leading scorer Carolyn Silverman, who found the back of the net six times in 2015.  Silverman is the only returner that scored more than once last season.  Nora Sahel produced five assists last year and started all 17 matches. 

Illinois College Lady Blues
Head Coach: Scott Smith (2^nd season) 6-10-2, 3-6-1
2015: 6-10-2 overall, 3-6-1 MWC
2016 Projected MWC Finish: 6^th
Letterwinners Returning: 12
Starters Returning: 9

Leading scorer Ashley Sholmire, who registered nine goals last season and also led Illinois College in points (21), shots (53), shots on goal (33) and game-winning goals (3) is back to lead the Lady Blues.  Kaylen Sims added two goals last season and will team with Ally Kjellander to form an experienced offense.  Starting defenders Sarah Stover and Rebecca Morris will be critical to Illinois College’s defensive efforts.  Second-year head coach Scott Smith will continue to fill out his roster with eight newcomers this fall, a move that will add depth and increase competition for the Lady Blues. 

Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Paul Lawrence (3^rd season) 16-19-2, 5-13-2
2015: 13-5-2 overall, 5-3-2 MWC
2016 Projected MWC Finish:  3^rd
Letterwinners Returning: 26
Starters Returning: 8
Returning All-MWC Performers: Sydney Fretwell So. D, Bryssa Montez So. M, Jen Crary So. M/D

For the second year in a row, the Knox women’s soccer team fields a team with no seniors on the roster. After being defeated in the conference championship game a season ago, the Prairie Fire return eight starters and have only five upperclassmen. An offense that finished second in the league in goals per game (3.40) returns leading scorers Kayla Brown (11 goals) and Jen Crary (9 goals). The defense only allowed .85 goals per game which was second in the league.

Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: TR Bell (20^th season) 213-120-12, 132-37-7
2015: 14-3-2 overall, 9-0-1 MWC
2016 Projected MWC Finish: 1^st
Letterwinners Returning: 21
Starters Returning: 7
Returning All-MWC Performers: Nina Perkkio Sr. M

Despite the loss of two of the best players in Forester history, Lake Forest is still expected to win its third consecutive MWC title.  Nina Perkkio was a Second Team All-MWC selection last fall and more should be expected of her this year with the departure of Michelle Greeneway and Holly Lesperance.  Perkkio was third on the team last year with four goals and led the team with 13 assists.  Kayla Wuest should also have a prominent role offensively.  She scored three times and had two assists last season.  Keeper Rachel Tenuta provides veteran coach TR Bell a solid option in goal.  Tenuta had six shutouts in 2015 and produced a 1.07 goals against average.  Defender Shari Jacobson made 14 starts last year and will return to the back line.    

Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Lisa Sammons (9^th season) 57-81-5, 35-35-7
2015: 9-9 overall, 4-6 MWC
2016 Projected MWC Finish:  6^th
Letterwinners Returning: 9
Starters Returning: 7
Returning All-MWC Performers: Ryan Berkley Jr. M

Lawrence upped its win total from five to nine last season and is looking to build on its .500 campaign in 2015.  Second Team All-MWC midfielder Ryan Berkley led the Vikings in nearly every major statistical category including goals (8), assists (6), points (22), shots (85) and shots on goal (46).  Casey Merkle should assist Berkley offensively as she posted five goals and three assists last fall.  Joining Merkle and Berkley in the midfield are returning starters Eva Tourangeau and Melissa Rooney and shoring up the defense will be Lara Frankson and Mari Hubanks.    

Monmouth College Fighting Scots
Head Coach: Nick Rizzo (1^st season)
2015: 6-12 overall, 5-5 MWC
2016 Projected MWC Finish: 4^th   
Letterwinners Returning: 12
Starters Returning: 5

First-year head coach Nick Rizzo steps into high expectations in his first fall at Monmouth as the Fighting Scots are expected to get back to the four-team MWC Tournament for the first time since 2013.  Monmouth won its final three games of the 2015 season and returns its top two scorers.  Darice Brooks led the Fighting Scots with eight goals, 16 points, 63 shots and 39 shots on goal.  Andrea Correa found the back of the net three times in 2015 and added three assists.  Keeper Nicole Neagle shutout MWC foes Cornell, Ripon, Illinois College and Lawrence last season and played all but 49 minutes last season. 

Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Sam Schroeder (6^th season) 47-40-5, 24-22-3
2015: 7-10-1 overall, 3-7 MWC
2016 Projected MWC Finish: 7^th
Letterwinners Returning: 16
Starters Returning: 7
Returning All-MWC Performers: Paige Birschbach Jr. F

After a disappointing season in 2015, the Red Hawks bring back nearly their entire squad this season and added a couple of welcomed additions.  Kaylee Tadych missed all of last season, but the two-time All-MWC selection is back this fall.  Tadych is already Ripon’s career assists leader (30), ninth in points (62) and 11^th in goals (16).  In 2014, Tadych passed out a conference record 20 assists.  Paige Birschbach and Morgan Johnson should also provide plenty of offense.  Birschbach earned First Team All-MWC honors after scoring 13 goals and dishing out eight assists, while Johnson led the team with nine assists.  Starting keeper Jessica Bykowski will lead the defense along with returning starters Mikayla Huesman, Danielle Senger and Emily Stanczak.  

St. Norbert College Green Knights
Head Coach: Dennis Detire (13^th season) 135-93-14, 86-28-6
2015: 11-6-2 overall, 8-2 MWC
2016 Projected MWC Finish:  2^nd
Letterwinners Returning: 8
Starters Returning: 6
Returning All-Conference Performers: Monica Stephens So. M/F

Monica Stephens scored eight goals last season and passed out a conference-high 15 assists last season as she earned First Team All-MWC plaudits. Many of those assists were to the departed Katie Vanden Avond, who was one of the best players in MWC history.  The midfield should be a strong point for the Green Knights as starters Aimee Conley, Sadie Jung, Madalyn Sanderfoot and Danielle Harris all return.  In goal, Maddie Plinska had five shutouts last season and played every second in goal.  She finished the season with a 1.58 goals against average.