CLEVELAND, OH – Defending North Coast Athletic Conference co-champion Wittenberg was selected as the favorite in the 2024 women's soccer preseason poll.

After securing the program's fifth NCAC title a season ago, the Tigers collected three first-place votes and 56 points overall in the preseason voting. Ohio Wesleyan picked up the remaining five first-place votes and 54 points overall to rank second among league competitors. Denison was tabbed third with 48 points while DePauw was selected fourth after earning 46 points, followed by Wooster (32) in fifth, Kenyon and Oberlin (22) in a tie for sixth, and Hiram (8) in eighth.
 
Wittenberg enters fall competition under the guidance of Head Coach Katie Robinson and her staff, Austin Blair and Chuck Crawford, who earned Coaching Staff of the Year after compiling a 5-1-1 mark in league play last season. In 18 games, the Tigers offense produced 69 points on 26 goals and 17 assists, while the defense recorded five shutouts and an .827 save percentage. In league play, Wittenberg ranked second in the NCAC with 37 points (14 goals, 9 assists) and posted a league-high .879 save percentage after allowing just eight goals and recording three shutouts. Additionally, the Tigers return four All-NCAC performers including senior midfielder Brooke Mullis (Lawrenceburg, IN/Taylor), senior defender Grace Koperna (Macedonia, OH/Nordonia), junior forward Alex Hill (Powell, OH/Olentangy Liberty), and sophomore Lily Winkle (Cynthiana, KY/Harrison County). 

The 2024 NCAC women's soccer season begins on August 30, with six NCAC teams playing in non-conference action. Conference play is scheduled to kick off on Oct. 5 with Oberlin at Hiram, Ohio Wesleyan at DePauw, Kenyon at Wooster, and Denison at Wittenberg.
 

2024 North Coast Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll
Rank	School (1st Place Votes)	Points
1.	Wittenberg (3)	56
2.	Ohio Wesleyan (5)	54
3.	Denison	48
4.	DePauw	46
5.	Wooster	32
T6.	Kenyon	22
T6.	Oberlin	22
8	Hiram	8