Aug. 14, 2012

East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan State was selected in a sixth-place tie with Iowa as the Big Ten announced its 2012 women's soccer preseason coaches' poll and players to watch list on Tuesday, Aug. 14. In addition, the league released its list of 36 "Players to Watch" - three from each team. Jordan Mueller, (Farmington Hills, Mich.), Olivia Stander (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) and Annie Steinlage (Grand Haven, Mich.) were the three Spartans who earned a spot on that list.

Michigan State was 14-6-1 in 2011 and finished third in the Big Ten, but welcome 10 new faces to the roster this season after losing a large and accomplished class to graduation.

Defending regular season champion Penn State earning top honors among the 12 conference teams. The Nittany Lions enter the season as the conference favorites after winning their 14th straight Big Ten title in 2011. Illinois checks in at No. 2 after earning its first Big Ten Tournament title since 2003. Ohio State follows at No. 3 in the poll, jumping four spots from its seventh place finish a year ago. Wisconsin and Michigan come in at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively, while Iowa and the Spartans tied for sixth. The complete preseason coaches' poll can be found below.

The 2012 season officially kicks off on Friday with 11 conference teams opening play. MSU opens its season at Bowling Green in a 7 p.m. tilt, then has its home opener on Sunday against Fordham at 12 noon.

BIG TEN WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

1. Penn State
2. Illinois
3. Ohio State
4. Wisconsin
5. Michigan
6. Iowa
Michigan State
8. Minnesota
9. Purdue
10. Nebraska
11. Northwestern
12. Indiana