The Illinois State soccer team was tabbed to finish third in the 2019 Missouri Valley Conference Coaches Poll, as announced by the conference office Thursday, Aug. 15. Two Redbirds, junior Abby Basler and senior Kate Del Fava, were voted to the MVC Preseason All-Conference team.
ISU returns 22 players and 10 starters from the 2018 team that went 10-9-2 and advanced to the semifinals of the MVC Championships.
Loyola Chicago collected six of eight first-place votes to earn the top spot, finishing with 62 points. Drake was ranked second in the poll, grabbing one first-place vote and 55 points.