Taylor Receives Votes in 2023 NAIA Preseason Coaches’ Poll

UPLAND, Ind. – The Taylor Trojan women's soccer team received plenty of top-25 votes in the annual NAIA Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll, finishing with 75 total points.

Only two other teams sat between TU and No. 25 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), which tallied 109 points. Both the No. 1- and No. 2-ranked teams in the poll are Crossroads League members, with Spring Arbor and Marian finishing first and second, respectively.

Taylor turned heads following last season's strong showing in the Crossroads League, where it finished above .500 at 4-3-2 in league play, highlighted by a 1-1 draw at Grace late in the season and a 2-1 victory over then-No. 11 Indiana Wesleyan in the CL Quarterfinals.

The Trojans' dominant non-conference performance in 2022, where they finished 8-0-0 in the regular season, complemented their respectable CL play to aid them in reaching the NAIA Tournament for the second time in school history.

TU returns nine starters from 2022, including six of its seven most prolific goal-scorers, and its starting goalkeeper, Hannah Brackenbury. Top returners to watch for as Taylor looks to build on its success from last season are leading goal-scorers Kiana Siefert and Lauren Collins, as well as the team's leader in assists, Claire Massey.

A host of other key contributors return from last season's squad, as well as 12 freshmen newcomers recruited by head coach Scott Stan.

#RV Taylor opens its season Thursday against Concordia (Mich.) at Turner Stadium. The match is slated to kick off at 7 p.m.