LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Rio Grande RedStorm women's soccer team is picked to finish in the basement in the Mid-South Conference Coaches' Preseason poll. Rio Grande garnered 12 points in the voting. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

Rio Grande has a load of returning players from a team that finished 1-16-1 last year and 0-7 in the MSC. The RedStorm also have arguably their strongest recruiting class in the history of the program and are hoping that combination leads to some surprises this season.

"We have a strong team this season," said Rio Grande head coach Amber Oliver. "We are deep defensively, and we have increased our speed up front."

"We have improved our possession game and we will look to attack more," Oliver added. "Our key will be how we finish the ball. We must also stay healthy and fit." 

Lindsey Wilson College is the preseason favorite. The Blue Raiders -- the defending conference regular season and tournament champion -- received 64 voting points, including eight first-place votes.

The University of the Cumberlands and Georgetown College each received 53 points to tie for second in the preseason balloting. Cumberlands received the final first-place vote.

Campbellsville is projected to finish fourth in the conference after receiving 42 voting points, while MSC newcomer Shawnee State is fifth with 34 points.

WVU Tech is sixth in the poll with 27 points while Pikeville College (22) and St. Catharine College (17) are projected to finish just ahead of Rio Grande.

The 2010 MSC women's soccer season begins later this month and concludes with the conference tournament beginning in early November at various sites. The tournament's semifinals and finals are scheduled for Nov. 11-12 at Rio Grande's Evan Davis Field.