[BIG TEN: Women] Penn State, which lost in the 2012 Women’s College Cup final to North Carolina, has been picked to win its 16th consecutive Big Ten championshipahead of Michigan, Illinois, Ohio State and Wisconsin.
The Lions return eight of 11 starters, including senior forward Maya Hayes, a two-timefirst-team All-American, junior defender Whitney Church and sophomore forward/midfielder Raquel Rodriguez, who wereselected as Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch.
Big Ten Preseason Poll:
1. Penn State
2. Michigan
3. Illinois
4. Ohio State
5. Wisconsin
6. Iowa
7. Minnesota
8. Northwestern
9. Nebraska
10. Michigan State
11. Purdue
12. Indiana
Big TenPlayers to Watch:
Nicole Breece, Illinois, So., Midfielder/Forward
Kassidy Brown, Illinois, Sr., Defender
Vanessa DiBernardo, Illinois, Sr., Midfielder
Rebecca Candler,Indiana, Sr., Forward
Lisa Nouanesengsy, Indiana, Sr., Midfielder
Lara Ross, Indiana, Sr., Defender
Ashley Catrell, Iowa, Sr., Forward/Midfielder
Cloe Lacasse, Iowa, Jr.,Forward
Alex Melin, Iowa, Sr., Midfielder
Nkem Ezurike, Michigan, Sr., Forward
Corinne Harris, Michigan, So., Forward
Meghan Toohey, Michigan, Sr., Midfielder
NicoleCaruso, Michigan State, Jr., Defender/Midfielder
Megan Marsack, Michigan State, Jr., Midfielder
Paige Wester, Michigan State, Jr., Forward
Haley Helverson, Minnesota, So., Forward
MacKenzie Misel, Minnesota, Sr., Defender
Katie Thyken, Minnesota, Jr., Midfielder
Mayme Conroy, Nebraska, Jr., Forward
Jordan Jackson, Nebraska, Sr., Forward
Ari Romero,Nebraska, Sr., Defender
Kate Allen, Northwestern, Sr., Forward
Jackie Alyinovich, Northwestern, Jr., Defender
Margo McGinty, Northwestern, So., Defender/Midfielder
LindsayAgnew, Ohio State, Fr., Forward
Megan Fuller, Ohio State, Sr., Defender
Nichelle Prince, Ohio State, Fr., Forward
Whitney Church, Penn State, Jr., Defender
Maya Hayes, PennState, Sr., Forward
Raquel Rodriguez, So., Penn State, Forward/Midfielder
Alex Hairston, Purdue, Jr., Forward
Jordan Pawlik, Purdue, Sr., Midfielder/Forward
Hadley Stuart,Purdue, Sr., Forward
Rose Lavelle, Wisconsin, Fr., Midfielder/Forward
Kinley McNicoll, Wisconsin, So., Midfielder
Cara Walls, Wisconsin, Jr., Forward