BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The Mountain East Conference (MEC) released its annual women's soccer preseason poll on Thursday afternoon. West Virginia State was picked to finish second in the South Division and received four first-place votes. The poll is voted on by the league's head coaches.

WVSU captured a MEC South Division title in 2022 after finishing 13-1-2 in conference play. The nationally-ranked Yellow Jackets fell to Fairmont in the MEC Tournament semifinals due to a heartbreaking last-minute goal. Nevertheless, State qualified for the NCAA DII Championship and defeated Bloomsburg in the opening round with a thrilling game-winner in overtime. WVSU was edged by West Chester, 1-0, in the next round. The Golden Rams went on to finish runners-up to National Champion Western Washington

Head Coach Brandon Slewa enters his first year in charge of the West Virginia State women's soccer program in 2023. Slewa was the Assistant Women's Soccer Coach at Fairmont State last year. The Falcons captured their first-ever MEC Tournament Championship and appeared in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history while he graced the sidelines.

All-MEC First Team and All-Atlantic Region Second Team selection Esther Dhiramo returns for a second season with the Yellow Jackets as a graduate student. The Kenyan winger scored 10 goals and added six assists in her debut season. Both marks were second-best on the team and ranked her top five in the league.

Three All-MEC Second Team honorees also return for another season at State. Junior goalkeeper Laura Galindo, senior midfielder Paula Herold and junior defender Maxima Bellscheidt will all be back to help WVSU push for another division title. 

Galindo averaged the second-most shutouts per game in the MEC with six in 18 matches (.333) and recorded the second-best save percentage (.837) in the league. Meanwhile, Bellscheidt helped the Yellow Jackets to average less than one goal allowed per game with only 15 goals allowed through 18 contests. Herold showcased her long-range shooting prowess and free kick taking abilities last year while scoring four goals and assisting on three more from her midfield and defensive positions.

Slewa will fuel competition for starting spots on the team with a talented recruiting class brought in over the offseason. Out of his six players brought in, five are transfers with playing experience at the collegiate level. They are expected to make an instant impact this season and fill voids left by the departures of key players from the previous season.

Concord was picked to finish first in the South Division in the 2023 MEC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll with 55 points and six first-place votes. The Mountain Lions were dethroned by WVSU last year as the usual suspects to win the division. West Virginia State was a close second with 52 points and four first-place votes. Charleston ranked third in the South with 44 points and the one remaining first-place vote.

Frostburg State and Fairmont State are expected to vie for the North Division title this season. The Bobcats topped the North in the preseason poll with 46 points and six first-place votes. The Falcons were given an almost equal chance to win the North with 45 points and five first-place votes.

The complete 2023 MEC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll is as follows:

NORTH DIVISION
1. Frostburg State (6) - 46
2. Fairmont State (5) - 45
3. Notre Dame - 32
4. Wheeling - 22
5. West Liberty - 15

SOUTH DIVISION
1. Concord (6) - 55
2. West Virginia St. (4) - 52
3. Charleston (1) - 44
4. Davis & Elkins - 35
5. West Va. Wesleyan - 23
6. Glenville State - 16
* Coaches not permitted to vote for own team

West Virginia State's 2023 campaign begins with a non-conference road game at Ohio Dominican on Thursday, Aug. 31st. The match is scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m.