Golden Grizzlies are Favorites in Summit League Preseason Poll

- www.ougizzlies.com:"Elmhurst, Ill. (Aug. 16, 2007) – For the second straight year Oakland’s women’s soccer team garnered the top spot in the Summit League preseason poll, as voted by the head coaches throughout the league. The Golden Grizzlies were the clear cut favorite, taking seven of nine first-place votes and totaling 63 points, well ahead of Western Illinois’ 46.

The Westerwinds edged newcomer North Dakota State by a slim two-point margin as the Bison garnered 44 points and one first-place vote. Just two points separated NDSU from fourth-place Southern Utah (42), while IUPUI (36), Oral Roberts (35), South Dakota State (30 points, one first-place vote), Centenary (17) and newcomer IPFW (11) rounded out the field.

Oakland is coming off another successful season which saw the Golden Grizzlies claim the Mid-Con Tournament championship on their home field. OU and Western Illinois played to a 1-1 draw in the title game and after two scoreless overtime sessions the Golden Grizzlies won the championship on penalty kicks to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in the program’s nine-year Division I history.

Several all-conference players will be returning to the lineup to help Oakland make another run at the conference title, including 2006 Offensive Player of the Year Kristi Tomczyk. Joining Tomczyk up front will be all-conference honorees Kristi Evans and Jessica Boyle, the MVP of last year’s Mid-Con Tournament. The backfield will be patrolled by all-conference defender Kristi Mitchell and Marlie Lieberman, a member of last season’s All-Newcomer team. Another member of the All-Newcomer team, Lindsey Blair, also returns to the lineup, as does starting goalkeeper Kim Herbst.

The Golden Grizzlies open the season Friday, August 31, hosting Syracuse at 2:30 p.m. at OU Soccer Field."