As announced by the United Soccer Coaches (USC) on Tuesday (Aug. 6) afternoon, Ashland University's women's soccer team begins the 2024 season not far from where it ended the 2023 campaign.
In the USC Top 25 national preseason poll revealed on Tuesday, the Eagles are slotted at No. 9. AU finished at No. 10 in the USC Top 25 NCAA Division II women's soccer rankings – the second-highest season-ending ranking in program history. Ashland was the No. 1-ranked team in the nation for six weeks in 2023 – a first for the program.
The Eagles in 2023 finished with a 19-1-4 overall record and an 11-0-3 mark in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. The 19 wins tied a program record, and the team earned 19 shutouts in 24 games.
Ashland also reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division II, hosting three NCAA postseason games at Ferguson Field in the process.
The Eagles will go to The Ohio State University on Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. for an exhibition game, then open the 2024 season at No. 7 Grand Valley State on Sept. 5 at 3 p.m. Ashland returns all goalkeeping minutes, 11 players who started at least 10 games and 13 players who saw action in at least 20 games last fall for head coach
Cayleb Paulino.
2024 ASHLAND UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S SOCCER USC RANKINGS: No. 9 (preseason).
