Burnsville, Minn. – The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference released the 2022 Preseason Soccer Coaches' Poll on Thursday morning. Northern State will look to continue their upward trajectory in the NSIC under second year head coach Bob Casper, as the Wolves are picked eighth in this year's coaches' poll. Casper led a Wolves team that was picked 13^th last year to an eighth place finish in the league and the program's first NSIC Tournament appearance since 2016 with a record of 7-6-5 (6-4-5 NSIC) in 2021.

Northern brings back a wealth of experience with five of seven players returning after starting all 18 games, including All-NSIC players Lilja Davidsdottir and Megan Fastenau who were selected as NSU's players to watch this upcoming season. Davidsdottir played a key role on the Wolves defense during a stretch of five consecutive shutouts and added a pair of goals on the offensive side of the ball. Fastenau is coming off a strong freshman campaign where she led the team in points (17) and goals (8) while netting the first hat-trick in program history since 2016 against Concordia-St. Paul.

Northern State will kick-off the 2022 season with a scrimmage at Jamestown on August 13, and the regular season begins with a non-conference match at Montana State Billings on August 25.
 
Players to Watch
Megan Fastenau

• Named All-NSIC Second Team in 2021
• During the 2021 season, she ranked sixth among NSIC players in goals (8) and seventh in points (17)
• Earned NSIC Offensive Player of the Week honors on October 25, following a pair of game winning goals against Upper Iowa and Winona State
• Recorded a hat-trick on October 1 against Concordia-St. Paul, one of only three by NSIC player's last season

Lilja Davidsdottir

• Named All-NSIC First Team in 2021
• Scored two goals, totaling four points on the season, including a game-winner at Wayne State
• Earned NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honors on October 18, following the Wolves' third consecutive shutout
• Played a key role on the NSU defense that recorded a total of five consecutive shutouts and did not surrender a goal over a course of 527:57 minutes of playing time

2022 NSIC Preseason Soccer Coaches' Poll

1.	Minnesota State (8)	217
2.	Bemidji State (5)	210
3.	Augustana (3)	199
4.	Concordia-St. Paul	178
5.	University of Mary	159
6.	Minot State	146
7.	St. Cloud State	145
8.	Northern State	141
9.	Winona State	101
10.	Wayne State	95
11.	Minnesota Duluth	89
12.	Sioux Falls	67
13.	Southwest Minnesota State	63
14.	Upper Iowa	61
15.	MSU Moorhead	30
16.	Minnesota Crookston	19