Eureka Tabbed Seventh in SLIAC Preseason Women’s Soccer Poll

ST. LOUIS – The Eureka women's soccer team has been selected seventh in the 2021 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference preseason poll. 

The poll, which was conducted by league coaches, featured the Red Devils with 12 points, moving up a spot from last year's preseason rankings.

Last year's regular season champion, Fontbonne, led the way with 41 points and five first-place votes. The Griffins were followed up Webster and Westminster, both of which received 34 points and one first-place vote.

Greenville was fourth with 27 points. Spalding was right behind with 24, and Principia was one point ahead of Eureka with 13. Blackburn rounded out the field with 11.

The Red Devils return nine starters from last spring's 2-7 campaign. The team features six seniors, including Emma Harris (Streator, Ill./Streator) and Michaela Mall (Princeton, Ill./Princeton) in the back, Lindsey Johnston (Evansville, Ind./Harrison) and Olivia Falls (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) in the midfield, and veteran goalkeepers Abby Swope (Canton, Ill./Canton) and Kayla Enochs (Greenfield, Ind./Central Greenfield) protecting the net. The team also returns leading scorer Madison Shines (Marengo, Ill./Marengo), who notched three goals and an assist in the spring.

Eureka will open its season on its home turf on Friday against Alverno at 7 p.m.