MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee women's soccer team has been picked by league coaches to finish first in the upcoming Horizon League regular season, according to the results of the Under Armour preseason poll announced today by the league office.
 
The Panthers tallied 10 first-place votes and the maximum 120 points in the coaches' poll to hold down the top spot, with the 103-point total of IU Indianapolis coming in second.
 
This marks the sixth time in the past seven seasons that the team has been picked for the top spot, a place they have earned in the conference poll 21 times since 2000, as well as an amazing run of 13 straight from 2000-2012.
 
Head coach Kevin Boyd has continued the long run of dominance for the Panthers over his first two years, claiming the past two Horizon League regular-season and Tournament Championships while making back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament. His two-year win-loss record stands at 24-7-8 (.718 winning percentage) while going an impressive 14-1-5 (.825) in regular-season Horizon League contests.
 
In 2023, he led the Panthers to a 12-3-5 ledger and an unbeaten 7-0-3 in conference action, leading the Horizon League in points (139), goals (47), assists (45), shots (315), and shots-per game (15.8), while finishing second with their 0.95 goals-against average. Those numbers finished among the best in the nation as well, seeing Milwaukee finish in the Top 25 in numerous categories in the NCAA: 17^th in points-per game (6.95 ppg), 18^th in total assists (45), 19^th in scoring offense (2.35 gpg), 20^th in assists per game (2.25 apg) and total points (139), 21^st in total goals (47) and goal differential (+28), and 23^rd in shots-on-goal per game (8.05).

Northern Kentucky (100 points/third), Wright State (71/fourth), and Youngstown State (65 points/fifth) wrapped up the next tier, with the Penguins earning the other first-place vote.
 
Robert Morris (60) was sixth, Oakland (59) seventh, and Detroit Mercy (54) was eighth to make up the middle of the poll.
 
Purdue Fort Wayne (44), Cleveland State (32), and Green Bay (18) rounded out the poll.
 
2024 #HLWSOC Preseason Poll
Pl.        Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1.        Milwaukee (10) – 120
2.        IU Indianapolis – 103
3.        Northern Kentucky – 100
4.        Wright State – 71
5.        Youngstown State (1) – 65
6.        RMU – 60
7.        Oakland – 59
8.        Detroit Mercy – 54
9.        Purdue Fort Wayne – 44
10.      Cleveland State – 32
11.      Green Bay – 18