By Meliyah Venerable/Delta Sports Editor 

Missouri Valley College women’s soccer team was nationally ranked number 21 in the Preseason Top 25 Poll. 

The Viking women’s soccer team moved up three spots from the preseason poll, and came in at No. 18 in the latest edition of the coaches’ poll, released Wednesday.  Missouri Valley earned a pair of 5-0 wins over Missouri Baptist and Ottawa (Kan.) at home, but fell to No. 10 Oklahoma Wesleyan on the road, 1-0, in the ratings period.  Monday’s 3-2 win over St. Ambrose (Iowa) did not factor into the current coaches’ poll.  The team is 3-1 on the season.

Former team captain Cassie Fuentes said the team is looking forward to the season, and they are all hungry for a conference title and a National Tournament appearance. 

“I’m looking forward to achieving out goal of going further in the national Tournament and growing as a team, as well as an individual,” Fuentes said. “The difference between this year and previous years is that we all share the same goal of winning conference and going to the National Tournament after getting a little taste of it last season.” 

The team has already had players recognized in the Heart of America Conference. Rina Kinami was named the Heart Women’s Soccer Defender of the Week this week. Which is a good sign that the Vikings will continue to improve and have a good outcome this season. The team is constantly working on improving their struggles from last season.

“As a team, I think we need to improve on having the same mentality going up against a top 24 team versus going up against an ‘easier’ team,” Fuentes said. “We’re working very hard everyday at practice to make sure we are prepared and to go up against the toughest teams.”