BLOG 1: Ferris selected seventh in GLIAC soccer preseason poll

By Sandy Gholston

BIG RAPIDS – Ferris State University has its work cut out for it if the 2008 preseason Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Coaches Poll is indicative of much.

Ferris State University women's soccer coach Neathan Gibson instructs his team during a practice session in Big Rapids. (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

The Bulldogs were picked seventh in the conference race with 19 points – just three points behind sixth-place Ashland with 22 points. Picked first in the league preseason poll is national superpower and prohibitive league favorite Grand Valley State with 49 points and seven of the eight first-place votes. In second place is Saginaw Valley State with 37 points and tied in third is Northern Michigan with 30 points and the remaining first-place votes. GLIAC newcomer Tiffin was tied for third with 30 points. Findlay was selected fourth with 29 points. Ashland and Ferris were sixth and seventh and Northwood finished eighth with seven.

Teams will be battling toward the 2008 GLIAC Women's Soccer Championship Tournament which begins Nov. 4 with the quarterfinals round. The semifinals and finals will be played Nov. 7, 9 at the site of the event's top seed. The championship tournament has been a nice addition to women's soccer as it gives teams a little something extra to shoot for in the tradition of what other sports have to cap the regular season.

Ferris finished with a record of 6-12-1 last season that included 4-4-0 in the league standings as the Bulldogs placed fifth.

Look for the Bulldogs to perhaps surprise some foes with a group of talented and hungry newcomers ready to prove Ferris is better than a seventh-place team.

If you have any questions, ideas or comments feel free to contact Sandy Gholston at sgholston2@netzero.com