Aug. 24, 2009

Bay City, Mich. - The head women's soccer coaches of the Great Lake Intercollegiate Athletic Conference chose Grand Valley State University, defending league champions, to win the 2009 GLIAC women's soccer title in the preseason poll. GVSU earned the maximum of 49 points and all seven first-place votes it was eligible for. The No. 9 Lakers open the season on Aug. 28  against No. 6 Columbus State.

 GVSU is four-time defending league champion and won the GLIAC women's soccer tournament the last two seasons. The Lakers had an impressive 2008 season under head coach David DiIanni, by going undefeated in conference play (14-0-0) and in regular season play (19-0-0). They outdistanced second-place Tiffin by 12 points. Saginaw Valley State earned 35 points, while Northern Michigan took the fourth spot with 33.

 Ferris State was four points behind NMU, placing fifth, while Findlay, Ashland and Northwood came in sixth, seventh and eighth respectively. GLIAC women's soccer teams open play on Thursday, Aug. 27 with conference play beginning Sunday, Sept. 13. The 2009 GLIAC Women's Soccer Tournament will begin with quarterfinals on Nov. 3 on campus site, with the semifinals and final held on Nov. 6 and 8 on the campus of the No. 1 seed.

 The league's eight head coaches participated in the balloting, but were not allowed to vote for their team. The first-place team on each ballot received seven points, while second received six points, ect.

   School (first-place votes)   Points
     1. Grand Valley State (7)       49
     2. Tiffin (1)                   37
     3. Saginaw Valley State         35
     4. Northern Michigan            33
     5. Ferris State                 29
     6. Findlay                      19
     7. Ashland                      13
     8. Northwood                    11