Huskies Picked 3rd in GLIAC Preseason Poll
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech women's soccer program is ranked third in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Preseason Poll, announced Monday by the conference office. Tech soccer enters its eighth overall season in 2017 and looks to continue to build on its success. The Huskies have compiled an overall record in those seven years of 74-43-11, all under Head Coach Michelle Jacob who has guided the team from the beginning.
Tech wrapped up the 2016 season with an overall record of 12-4-3, finishing third in the GLIAC regular season standings in addition to punching a ticket to the GLIAC Tournament Championship game. The 12 wins last season were the second most in program history. The Huskies reached 14 victories in 2012 and 2013, with NCAA Regional Tournament appearances in 2013 and 2014.
Defending GLIAC champion Grand Valley State was picked first in the preseason poll with nine first place votes and 81 total points. Ashland University checked in second with 73 points and one first place vote. The Huskies were third with 62 points, Ferris State fourth with 50 points, and Saginaw Valley State rounded out the top five with 46 points.
Key returners for the Huskies include senior goalie Kirsen Hudak, senior defender Taylor Archibald, junior defender Rachel Wall, and sophomore defender Anne Fife. Hudak, a native of Racine, Wisconsin, finished the 2016 season with a record of 12-4-3 and posted 10 shutouts during her time in front of the net. Hudak made 96 saves while allowing just 15 goals to opponents in 1,771:17 minutes. In addition to her spot on the NSCAA All-Region Team, Hudak was the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Goalie of the Year and was named to the All-GLIAC First Team. Hudak finished third in the GLIAC in total saves, second in wins, and was fifth in goals against average (0.76).
Archibald is originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin and played a major role in one of the top defenses in the GLIAC last season. The Huskies held opponents to under a goal per game and 10 shutouts. Archibald played in all 19 games with 12 starts and made her presence felt in the attacking third as well with a career high three goals last season.
Wall, who came to Houghton from Eagan, Minnesota, played in 17 games and started 16 of those contests for the Huskies a year ago. She teamed up with Archibald in the defensive backfield to help set a program record for fewest goals allowed in a season (15).
Fife, who stepped up as a freshman in 2016, started all 19 games for the Huskies during her first campaign as a collegiate player and is a key returner this season. Fife, who hails from De Pere, Wisconsin, will be looked upon for leadership and to help anchor a strong Tech defense.
Offensively, the Huskies are going to be balanced with a number of players who can step up and score, making it tough on opponents to focus on just one or two attackers. In addition to Archibald's three goals last year, junior Marisa DeMario (Grand Rapids, Mich.) contributed three scores as a sophomore in 2016. Coach Jacob added six freshmen to the team during the offseason that will look to crack the lineup both offensively and defensively in 2017 as well.
Like a season ago, the Huskies will play nine of their 16 regular season games at home. Tech kicks off the year on the road at Winona State (Sept. 1) and St. Cloud State (Sept. 3) before opening a four match home stand on September 8th against Bemidji State. Other home opponents this season include Minnesota-Duluth (Sept. 10), Northwood (Sept. 15), Saginaw Valley State (Sept. 17), Ashland (Oct. 13), Tiffin (Oct. 15), Grand Valley State (Oct. 20), Ferris State (Oct. 22), and Northern Michigan (Oct. 27).
In addition to opening weekend, the Huskies will travel to Davenport (Sept. 22), Purdue Northwest (Sept. 24), Saginaw Valley State (Sept. 29), Northwood (Oct. 1), and Northern Michigan (Oct. 8).
The official GLIAC press release can be viewed by clicking here.