KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced its preseason coaches poll for the 2024 women’s soccer season. MIAA head coaches selected Washburn, the defending MIAA regular season champion, to finish at the top of the league again this season.
 
The Ichabods totaled 137 points and the majority of first-place selections with nine to secure the top spot on the 2024 MIAA Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
Washburn took its 2023 campaign all the way to the NCAA Division II National Championship match in Matthews, North Carolina where they suffered a 1-0 loss to Point Loma Nazarene University. The defending national runners-up ended the season with an overall record of 21-4-1 and clinched the 2023 regular season title with a league record of 9-1-1. It was the Ichabods first MIAA championship crown since 2006.
 
Central Missouri was picked second in the coaches poll with 131 total points and three first-place votes. After three consecutive regular season titles, the Jennies finished second in the league last season with an MIAA record of 8-1-2. Central Missouri finished 16-5-2 overall last season, concluding the year in the second round of the NCAA tournament with a 3-2 overtime loss to Washburn.
 
The Tigers of Fort Hays State secured the No. 3 spot in the poll with 112 points while Northwest Missouri and Emporia State were picked fourth and fifth in just a single point difference. The Bearcats finished at No. 4 with 99 points and the Hornets came in at No. 5 with 98 points.
 
Missouri Western collected the remaining first-place vote and totaled 86 points to occupy the No. 6 spot. Following the Griffons was Central Oklahoma at No. 7 with 82 points, Northeastern State at No. 8 with 77 points, Rogers State was picked No. 9 with 58 points and the Lopers of Nebraska Kearney concluded the coaches’ top ten with 46 points. In Pittsburg State’s inaugural season, the Gorillas were selected 11th with 39 points, followed by Newman and Missouri Southern.
 
The 2024 MIAA women’s soccer season officially kicks off Thursday, September 5. To view a complete schedule of all 13 MIAA programs, click here.
 
The 2024 MIAA Women’s Soccer Championship is scheduled to begin Sunday, November 10 with the top four seeds hosting quarterfinal matches at home. The four remaining seeds will then travel to Wichita, Kansas for the championship’s final matches set for November 14 and 16 at the Stryker Sports Complex.
 
2024 MIAA WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Washburn [9] – 137 points
2. Central Missouri [3] – 131 points
3. Fort Hays State – 112 points
4. Northwest Missouri – 99 points
5. Emporia State – 98 points
6. Missouri Western [1] – 86 points
7. Central Oklahoma – 82 points
8. Northeastern State – 77 points
9. Rogers State – 58 points
10. Nebraska Kearney – 46 points
11. Pittsburg State – 39 points
12. Newman – 29 points
13. Missouri Southern – 20 points 
[#] - Number of First-Place Votes