CLEVELAND, Ohio – According to a poll of Horizon League head coaches, the Cleveland State University women's soccer team has been selected to finish fifth in the League in 2018.

The Vikings return eight starters and 17 letterwinners from last year's squad under second-year head coach Dallas Boyer.

Defending Horizon League regular-season champion Milwaukee was tabbed as the preseason favorite and claimed half of the first-place votes. Defending League tournament champion IUPUI was the runner-up and garnered a trio of first-place nods. Wright State and Northern Kentucky just squeaked past CSU into third and fourth, respectively, and each earned one first-place selection. UIC, Oakland, Detroit Mercy, Youngstown State and Green Bay followed the Vikings in the poll in spots six through 10, respectively.

Cleveland State returns senior Dani Sowinski and sophomore Jenna Prathapa, the reigning Horizon League Freshman of the Year, to lead the attack. Sowinski had five goals and two assists last season while Prathapa led the team in goals (6) and points (15).

Senior McKenna Vento returns in the midfield after earning All-Horizon League honors last season on the strength of four goals and a team-best five assists. Sophomore Grace Grant posted 10 points last season, claiming All-Freshman Team honors from the League, and gave the CSU four players in double-figure points for the first time in program history.

Seniors Toni Dickson and Carly Cerny return as veteran leaders and mainstays on CSU's back line with the duo combining for 31 starting assignments a season ago.

The Vikings won nine games last year, one off the school record, while tying the school record for most Horizon League victories (5) in a campaign.

Cleveland State has concluded its preseason fixture slate and will open the regular season with a pair of matches at home this weekend, beginning with a contest Friday, Aug. 17, against Howard at 7:00 p.m.